It is an understatement to say that President Vladimir Putin’s reckless, diabolical, and putrid adventurism in the Ukraine has placed the world in grave danger.

If anyone was not convinced before, his sham referendum to annex territories in the Ukraine should convince us that he is unhinged, a narcissistic demagogue who has clearly gone off the rails. Even those who would want to agree with him or otherwise give him support, must admit that his present state of mind and reckless behaviour, even to his own citizens, are unsustainable and can only have grave outcomes for them and the world community in general.

He has set back the gains that the world was expected to have made in dealing with climate change. As a major producer of energy derived from fossil fuels, Putin has forced countries to continue to use fossil fuels by causing severe shortages in the world. He has disrupted supply of this commodity, increased demand for it, and forced countries to reconsider, even in the short term, moving to green energy solutions. Although Europe is doing the best it can to adjust to the new dynamics, there is no real clear thinking as to what will happen on that continent when the dreaded winter months arrive.

But apart from setting back climate change expectations, the even more worrying danger is Putin’s threat of availing himself of the nuclear option as his military prowess in the Ukraine diminishes. And diminishing they are. The brave Ukrainians, with help from the West, are proving that they are not a walk over. They have retrieved stolen territory and, with the resolve of the West, will continue to do so until the occupied regions, not excluding Crimea, are retaken. So the writing is pretty much on the wall, but Putin and his hardened cronies and supporters are not reading it right. The annexation of stolen territory will only be temporary as Ukraine steps up its attacks to retake territory. Putin has only emboldened the West to become more resolute is helping Ukraine achieve its objectives. This is why Putin hastened ahead with his nefarious referendum and annexation as if the territories belong to him in a war in which there is no clear path that he will win. My prediction is that with continued support from the West, Ukraine will recapture more territory and, thus, lessen his hold on the annexed areas.

This will move Putin to become more unhinged. As a wounded military and political animal, he will be even more dangerous than he has ever been. Unless he is dislodged from his self-absorbed perch, he can do a lot more damage to his people, about whom he obviously cares little; the Ukrainians, who he would not hesitate to make fried chicken in a nuclear blast; and the rest of the world, for which, with the exception of his abettors, he has no respect. He has to be carefully watched and, when the time becomes expedient, be removed from office. A nation of 145 million people, including the Russian Ambassador to Jamaica Sergey Petrovich and his Russian staff, cannot allow the narcissistic propensities of one man to obliterate an entire nation and civilisation. This is what will happen in a nuclear confrontation which Russia clearly cannot win.

It is amazing to me the extent to which so many people are prepared to ignore history in the pursuit of their own agendas. I think of Adolf Hitler in Germany and how a once proud nation allowed itself to be duped and bewitched into following one person who presented himself as a national saviour to whomever’s knee should bow and tongue confess his or her absolute loyalty. Hitler presided over the destruction of Germany as allied bombs rained down on German cities. I see similarities in what Putin is attempting in Russia. How can the people of a nation allow one man to bewitch them into a situation that can lead to total annihilation? Make no mistake about it, the more Putin is cornered, the more he will not hesitate to use the nuclear option, insofar as he can pull it off. It is sad to see how a proud nation that gave the world some of its brightest scientists and literary geniuses can be reduced to silence and acquiescence based on the dictates of one man.

If former US President Donald Trump had his way, America would have gone the same way. Those who are nursing fascistic passions, of which the Republican Party is at the forefront, must be told in no uncertain terms that their fawning flirtation with fascist tendencies cannot win the day. It will not only spell the death of democracy as Americans have known it but lead to a horrible and irrevocable alteration of American society, for good. These tendencies must be strongly resisted. Hitler proved how with violence he could subdue the organs of government for his own political ends. There should be no illusion that, that, too, can happen in America. Listen to what they are saying, but more importantly, observe what they are doing.

Where is the voice of the Jamaican Government with regard to Putin’s mess in the Ukraine? In an earlier piece, when Putin had just invaded the country, I did a piece where I called upon the Government to unequivocally state its condemnation of this move. To the best of my knowledge, there has not been this clear call. There might have been the general registration of concern, but no condemnation. If there is ever a time when this clear voice is called for from the Andrew Holness Administration, it is now. It needs to be a voice similar to that which denounced South Africa under apartheid.

I believe the Government should call in the Russian ambassador to Jamaica and let him know, without any doubt, that we condemn what Russia is doing in the Ukraine and its sabre-rattling about the use of the nuclear option. It should be clear that we cannot maintain our relationship as usual with the people of Russia while it continues to threaten a sovereign nation and the world with nuclear annihilation. But will it do this? I hardly think so.

I do not think the Government possesses the moral fortitude and the boldness to do what is required here. We have had a long relationship with Russia. Our natives have been given scholarships to study there and there has been bilateral cooperation between the two countries which have helped Jamaica. Its investment in the bauxite sector under United Company Rusal cannot be denied, though there is grave doubt as to whether we are benefiting from this investment as we should.

There comes a point in a nation’s history when you have to take a decisive stand, even when others are not prepared to do so. Jamaica could take the lead in the Caribbean and do what is right in living up to its beliefs and principles concerning the sovereignty of other countries and the human rights of citizens.

The Government’s silence on this matter is as deafening as it is disconcerting and immoral. Minister Kamina Johnson Smith, what do you say?

Dr Raulston Nembhard is a priest, social commentator, and author of the books Finding Peace in the Midst of Life’s Storm; Your Self-esteem Guide to a Better Life; and Beyond Petulance: Republican Politics and the Future of America. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or stead6655@aol.com.