Distinguished Professor Ali Riaz has been quoted in a news report in the The Pantagraph on the ongoing Ukraine crisis.
Riaz described the Russian invasion as a betrayal of an understanding between Russia, Ukraine, the U.S., and the United Kingdom forged in 1994 when Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Budapest, which gave assurance that none of these countries would use force against Ukraine and violate its sovereignty.
Riaz also described the attack on Ukraine as an attack on Europe designed to undermine the current global order. He asked what kind of message Russia’s actions send to small countries that want to make their own decisions. He also pondered whether China would follow Russia’s footsteps with respect to Taiwan, or India with Nepal or Bangladesh.
