US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, speaking in Singapore on Saturday, said the Russian invasion of Ukraine was a “preview of a possible world of chaos and unrest”. Speaking at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, Austin noted the potential consequences of the deadly invasion, which began with Russian President Vladimir Putin in February and has been widely condemned by a number of world leaders, particularly NATO members. “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is what happens when the oppressors break the rules that protect us all. It is what happens when the great powers decide that their imperial appetites are more important than the rights of their peaceful neighbors. And it is a “a preview of a possible world of chaos and turmoil that none of us would want to live in.” He added: “This is how we understand what we could lose. We see the dangers of disorder.” The Pentagon chief then spoke about the importance of a “rule-based international order”, stressing how Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea helped Ukraine after the invasion, and noting the critical contributions from India, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also addressed the summit on Saturday – with his speech being held in a virtual capacity – stressing that world order is being tested in his country. “I am grateful for your support, but this support is not only for Ukraine, but also for you,” Zelensky was quoted as saying by Reuters. “It is on the battlefields of Ukraine that the future rules of this world are decided along with the limits of what is possible.” Ever since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, an alliance of leaders – including US President Joe Biden – has continued to appropriate money for weapons needed by the Ukrainian military to counter the invading forces. The first weeks of the war saw critical mistakes on the part of the Russian military, with the country suffering heavy casualties on the ground and using inadequate equipment. Russia has re-calibrated and in recent weeks has focused its efforts mainly on eastern Ukraine – mainly in the Donbas region, which has been the scene of intense fighting in the city of Sheverodonetsk. Ukraine has demanded more long-range weapons from the West in order to counter the weapons used by Russia. Vadym Skibitsky, the deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence service, recently told the Guardian that the battle against Russia was “an artillery war now” and that his forces were “losing artillery” at the moment. On Friday, Austin also met with his Chinese counterpart, General Wei Feng, the Secretary of Defense, where he stressed that the United States is not “seeking confrontation or conflict” over Taiwan. Since entering the White House last year, Biden has had several foreign policy rifts with China, most notably in connection with the United States’ stance on a “strategic ambiguity” over Taiwan, which the Chinese government considers a breakaway province.
