James E Archibong
After the Second World War, former associates in the conflict, the United States (US) and its allies on one hand, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and its satellite states on the other hand, turned adversaries and got embroiled in a bitter rivalry christened ‘Cold War.’ Their relationship was characterized by an arms race, ideological fray, proxy wars, and threats of nuclear annihilation. The Cold War ended following the collapse of socialism in Europe and the dismemberment of the USSR in 1991. In a new era of cooperation, Russia's successor to the USSR was rehabilitated with massive Western aid and integrated into the global economic system. However, this new-found partnership was short-lived as rejuvenated Russia started asserting its military and economic might in the global arena. Its territorial ambition and overseas military exploit led to a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, an act that engendered crippling Western sanctions against Russia. The paper examines the acrimonious relationship between the West and Russia and the unfolding scenario in the context of a new cold war. It finds that the characteristics of the previous Cold War are visible in the present circumstance; and that a new cold war has resurfaced between the two. The paper recommends cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, immediate withdrawal of Russian troops, as well as an international guarantee of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in return for the lifting of sanctions on Russia.