Tsar's Gambit moves

Certain moves in chess are clear in their definition. Pinning, Snatching, Discovered Attack, and Sacrifice are some of them. Even the En passant, which is a special move, is understandable. Others are obscure. The very concept of the gambit reflects Putin's moves at this moment. A gambit is a move made by the white pieces at the beginning of the game where the queen's pawn is sacrificed to strategically dominate territories on the board. In this sense, Russia is thinking like a chessboard, while the United States thinks like a game of Risk. They want to conquer territories at all costs, trying to use force. Acting temperamentally and using whatever means they can to achieve their goals.

A phrase frequently used in this time of conflict is "to guarantee peace." It's a classic tactic used during invasions. Troops are entering Ukraine in separatist regions of Donbas. The expression "to guarantee peace" was frequently used by the Americans as an excuse to invade countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Indonesia, just to mention a few from the 1990s, because if we look at their history, we see incursions dating back to 1887. In recent years, American entries have been covered by media coverage, showing only a fraction of their army's strength, allowing the international press to always exalt their actions. Even when they invade Iraq in search of weapons of mass destruction, they plunder the country and find nothing. 

In the case of Russia, the situation is more complex. The second largest army in the world, with over six thousand nuclear warheads, responsible for the defeat of Napoleon and Hitler with relentless and obstinate offensives at any cost. This is not an army of small countries. They are strategists, and every move is protected by their internal reserves. They control most of the gas in Europe and are the second largest oil producer in the world. The sanctions currently imposed by the US and parts of Europe are not yet having an effect on Russia. Could the current circumstance of the invasion of Donetsk and Luhansk mean entry into all of Ukraine?

We are truly living through very difficult times. The escalation of tension has already begun with climate change, which is now one of the reasons for the fury of nature that is destroying parts of Brazil; the growth of the far right in Brazil and the world; the pandemic that has led to the unprecedented loss of human lives; and now, a possible world war. Positions are beginning to divide into two sides. We now have China supporting dialogue, but hoping for an opening to also recognize Taiwan as independent. With this, we will have Russia and China on one side, and the United States and European countries in crisis on the other. 

The invasion has several strategic objectives. One is to destabilize the Ukrainian government and create chaos in the country. Then, more importantly, to create a land bridge between Russia and Crimea, which would be completely occupied, along with everything that would be part of this economic corridor connected to the Black Sea, reaching as far as Moldova. Total occupation would be unthinkable at this moment, as would the overthrow of the country. Ukraine's stance towards the Europeans in recent years has bothered the Russians, who consider it the gateway for their businesses and will defend it tooth and nail, even, if necessary, in the event of a world war that affects the entire planet. Right now, oil is already more expensive, and the stance of countries is necessary, as Putin is still having a field day. I believe the escalation of violence will increase, but I don't believe in a third world war. We are in the midst of speeches by presidents around the world, and I hope they seek a political and diplomatic solution for peace.

We know that given the points Putin demanded for peace—which would be to relinquish Crimea and Donbas; renounce any intention of joining NATO; and completely disarm—it's worth remembering that in 1914, after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, the Austro-Hungarian Empire made demands of Bosnia. They accepted. Even so, war broke out.