Russian aggression in Ukraine is unacceptable, Singapore Minister
Says West cannot be considered innocent bystanders
According to a high-ranking Singapore official, even though no backstory can justify Russia's attack on Ukraine, the Western powers cannot be considered as disinterested observers who played no part in the events leading up to the current crisis.
During a speech discussing the impact of the war on Southeast Asia, K. Shanmugam, who serves as both Home Affairs and Law Minister, emphasized that the underlying factors of the conflict were much more complex than what had been reported by the mainstream media, reports SCMP
The minister emphasized the need to delve deeper into the facts and not get swayed by the sensationalism, opinions, and biased accounts presented in the media amidst the intricate nature of the conflict.
During the period of Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2015, Shanmugam, who served as foreign minister from 2011 to 2015, articulated the perspective of the Western media, which portrayed Moscow and President Vladimir Putin as the only ones to blame for the situation. According to this view, Putin's personal ambitions were the root cause of the suffering endured by many.
During a two-day workshop about the war organized by ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, Shanmugam expressed that while some of the information presented was true, it did not provide a complete understanding of the situation, according to his speech.
The speaker pointed out that the statement conveniently frees the West from any accountability regarding the situation's development. However, the speaker also made it clear that the previous circumstances do not justify the invasion of Ukraine or the ongoing war.
The minister mentioned various factors that influenced the situation, including the West's stance called "not one inch", which meant that NATO would not extend towards the east after the Berlin Wall fell and the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990.
Declassified documents reveal that the former US Secretary of State, James Baker, suggested a proposal to ease Russian anxieties about their security. However, later US administrations seemed to have a different opinion. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, there were two instances of Nato expansion, which occurred in 1999 and 2004.
The desire of countries like Poland or the Baltic states to become part of Nato is justifiable due to their difficult past. However, it is equally important to address Russia's security concerns while deciding on Nato's expansion.
The speaker brought up previous statements made by ex-French president Francois Hollande and ex-German chancellor Angela Merkel regarding the purpose of the Minsk Agreements, which were established in 2014 and 2015 to bring back peace after Russia took over Crimea.
The agreement, which was mediated by France and Germany, was accepted by Russia because it contained a clause that granted more independence to the people of the Donbas area. However, last year, the two former leaders' remarks indicated that the agreement was actually aimed at giving Ukraine time to strengthen itself after the outbreak of the war.
The speaker mentioned that Russia's interpretation of the leaders' statements is crucial. According to the speaker, Russia believes that the West's comments indicate a lack of sincerity, and that it is impossible to reach agreements between these countries through negotiations.
He highlighted the problems and sequence of occurrences to demonstrate that there are diverse perspectives on the causes of the current condition and the level of accountability of those nations involved. No information has been excluded while rephrasing.
According to the minister, the West and Nato cannot be considered as neutral onlookers without any part in the present scenario. The minister further expressed that regardless of the circumstances, Ukraine has become an unfortunate sufferer and its citizens are facing a dreadful outcome.
According to Shanmugam, even though Singapore is a small state, the lessons learned from the conflict demonstrate two crucial principles of international law. These principles are indivisible security, which means that one state should not strengthen its security by putting another state's security at risk, and self-determination, which is the right of a state to pick its own political and military alliances.
The minister stated that smaller states, such as Singapore, often suffer the consequences of conflict between larger powers. Therefore, it is in Singapore's best interest to establish regional frameworks that encourage collaboration rather than competition in the area.
We need to possess military capabilities and social strength in order to protect ourselves as other countries may only assist us if it aligns with their own interests. It is important to be self-sufficient in defending our nation.
Out of all the Southeast Asian countries, only Singapore, which is an important strategic ally of the United States, has implemented sanctions against Russia in response to its invasion.
The organization stated that their stance is centered around the belief that every nation, regardless of size, has the right to be respected in terms of their independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty.
Girish Linganna
Aerospace & Defence Analyst
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Allahabad HC orders probe into 'reinstatement' of teacher in UP's Barabanki
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered a probe by the special task force (STF) into alleged irregularities in the rejoining of a teacher at City Intermediate College in Barabanki, observing that the reinstatement appeared to be prima facie illegal.
The court also directed the recovery of the salary paid to the teacher during the disputed period.
A bench of Justice Rajeev Singh passed the order on a petition filed by the college management committee. The court expressed doubts over the roles of the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Barabanki, the college principal and the teacher concerned and hence, directed a detailed inquiry into the matter.
Taking note of alleged manipulation of records and misleading submissions, the court ordered the immediate transfer of the Barabanki DIOS to ensure a fair probe. It also directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the then joint director of education of the Ayodhya division.
In its order, the court found that the teacher, Abhay Kumar, was initially appointed as an assistant teacher in 2018 but joined an Eklavya Model Residential School in Chhattisgarh as a lecturer in June 2024 without obtaining permission from the management. His subsequent request to retain the lien was rejected.
Despite this, he was allowed to rejoin the Barabanki College in September 2025 on the directions of the joint director of education and the DIOS, and was even paid the salary for October 2025. The court termed the rejoining "wholly illegal" and lacking any legal basis.
The bench also expressed concern over lapses in communication within the education department and directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to ensure that official orders are communicated through email and WhatsApp as well, to prevent disputes.
The matter is next listed for hearing on May 28 when a compliance report is sought.
