“Ukraine is a Proxy of the West?” – Facts versus Myths

New studies show the limited character of Western aid to the Ukraine

By Michael Pröbsting, International Secretary of the Revolutionary Communist International Tendency (RCIT), 5 April 2023, www.thecommunists.net

 

Since the beginning of the war on 24 February 2022, a number of self-proclaimed Trotskyists have not tired of asserting that the Ukraine would merely serve as a “proxy” of Western imperialism. To give two examples.

At its recently held World Congress, the ISA, once more, confirmed its position. It talks about “the ‘Ukraine model’ of an indirect proxy war” of U.S. imperialism. The whole conflict is reduced to the claim that Washington would “wage its own proxy war against Russia in its own interests. By using vicious economic sanctions, and by arming the Ukrainian state and general Ukrainian resistance against the invasion the US aims to strike blows against Russia, and through this undermine China, alongside its escalating economic and technological warfare against China itself. [1] As a result, as we have pointed out in several articles, the ISA shamefully calls workers in Western countries to sabotage any military aid to the Ukraine. [2]

The Fracción Trotskista (led by the Argentinean PTS) basically shares the same position. In a recently distributed leaflet, its supporters in the U.S. wrote: “This is a reactionary proxy war being fought by two capitalist camps.[3] The comrades even deny the imperialist character of Russia and China and oppose any support for the Ukraine’s struggle for national self-determination. [4]

 

Socialist approach

 

The RCIT and all authentic socialists have always opposed such an approach. Of course, it is true that the U.S. and Western Europe are sending military and economic aid to the Ukraine, hoping to weaken their Eastern rival. However, this does not mean the Ukraine’s war of national defence would be a struggle “in the service of Western imperialism”. The war is the result of Putin’s determination to transform the country into a colony of Russia and the determined resistance of the Ukrainian workers and popular masses to defend their freedom.

We consider the Ukraine as an capitalist, semi-colonial country where its people are waging, first and foremost, a just war of national defence. [5] Consequently, the RCIT and its comrades in Russia unconditionally support the Ukraine’s liberation struggle (including their right to get weapons) without lending any political support to the bourgeois and pro-NATO Zelensky government. At the same time, we advocate a strict policy of intransigent opposition against all imperialist powers – in West as well as in the East. Hence, we do not support any chauvinist Great Power policy (e.g. economic and financial sanctions, diplomatic and cultural boycott). [6]

The main defect of the arguments of those socialists who claim that the conflict in the Ukraine would be merely a “proxy war” is their denial that the Ukrainian people are fighting for their fundamental national rights. According to the ISA, FT and like-minded organisations, the Ukrainian people fight because Western imperialism tells them to do so. But, as a matter of fact, the Ukrainian masses have a long history of defending their national right of self-determination against Russia.

While all “proxy war”-theorists talk a lot about “imperialism”, they forget or deny that a key feature of imperialism is national oppression and super-exploitation of oppressed people – directly (in colonies) or indirectly (in semi-colonies). However, one can not be a Marxist without recognising the central place of such imperialist oppression and without recognising the just character of national liberation struggles of peoples in (semi-)colonies. [7]

True, Western powers try to utilise the Ukraine War for their own interests. However, this is not an unprecedented development. As we did show in other documents, it has happened many times in history that one Great Power tried to utilise a national war against a rivalling Great Power (e.g. the Irish rebellion against Britain in 1916, Ethiopia’s war against Italy in 1935/36, China’s war against Japan 1937-45). But such tactical support by this or that Great Power did not alter the total character of these just national wars. [8]

 

Revealing facts

 

It is not our intention at this place to repeat our arguments on this issue. We rather want to draw attention to two new documents which show the real amount of Western aid for the Ukraine. Contrary to the claims of Putinistas and “proxy war”-theorists, U.S. and EU aid to the Eastern European country is not “unprecedented”.

One document is a statement of the Michael McCaul, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. The second is a detailed study published by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. As the author of these lines has reported in detail about these documents, we limit ourselves to summarise the main findings. [9]

The Chairman of the U.S. House Committee has revealed in a public statement that only a small proportion of U.S. aid to the Ukraine directly does to the Ukraine. “Of the 113 billion dollars appropriated across four supplementals, approximately 60 percent is going to American troops, American workers, and to modernizing American stockpiles. In fact, only 20 percent of the funding is going directly to the Ukrainian government in the form of direct budgetary assistance. [10]

In other words, only 1/5 of U.S. aid for the Ukraine actually goes directly to the Ukraine while 3/5 goes to the Pentagon and other American institutions! Hence, the Ukraine aid is first and foremost “aid” for U.S. imperialism, or to be more precise, subsidies from the U.S. public budget to U.S. monopolies and the Pentagon.

The study of the German-based Kiel Institute for the World Economy provides a lot of data about the Western aid to the Ukraine in detail and makes interesting historical comparisons. As we did show in detail in our above-mentioned article, the study reveals that – calculated as share of economic output – aid to the Ukraine has been rather small for major Western powers like the U.S., Germany, France or Britain (between 0.31-0.37% of GDP). [11]

The study also shows that U.S. aid to the Ukraine is much smaller than contributions during past wars. This becomes evident as the authors provide figures for U.S. aid to the USSR and other allies during World War II or for U.S. military spending in the Korea War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War in 1990/91, the Afghanistan War in 2001 (plus the following occupation) or the Iraq War in 2003 (plus the following occupation). Military spending per year in all these wars was much bigger than Western aid to the Ukraine in 2022. Even average annual U.S. military expenditures in Afghanistan were slightly larger than aid for the Ukraine.

 

Conclusions

 

These two documents demonstrate that – contrary to the claims of Putinistas and “proxy war”-theorists – Western aid to the Ukraine is not “unprecedented” by historical standards. These facts show that its support is rather limited. This is even more the case as there exists a growing trend within the leading circles of Western imperialism to push the Ukraine to bring the war to a close and to accept a stalemate with Russia, i.e. to accept Putin’s occupation of several regions in the South and East of their country. [12]

The main conclusions, in our view, are the following.

1.           The boasts of Western governments about their “unprecedented” aid to the Ukraine serve both domestic as well as foreign-policy purposes. However, their support is not particularly large by historical standards.

2.           Furthermore, one must take into account the gap between aid promised to the Ukraine and aid which has been actually delivered. In addition, as the U.S. Chairman of the House Committee has revealed, only 20% of U.S. aid goes directly to Kyiv while 60% goes to U.S. monopolies and the Pentagon.

3.           We therefore strongly refute the thesis of Putinistas and “proxy war”-theorists that the Ukraine would not fight for their national liberation but merely for interests of Western imperialism. Socialists should support the right of the Ukraine to get material aid (including weapons) from wherever possible. They should oppose any political conditions attached to such aid by Western governments. Such a stance needs to be combined with a revolutionary defeatist approach against all imperialist powers – in West as well as in East.

The RCIT calls all authentic socialists who share such an approach to intensify collaboration and to join forces in fighting for a consistent internationalist and anti-imperialist position. We have summarise such an approach in the slogan: Defend the Ukraine against Putin’s invasion! Beware of NATO and Zelensky – transform the resistance against the Russian occupation into a Popular War! Against Russian and against NATO imperialism!

 



[1] ISA: Epoch of Multiple Crises - We Have a World to Win! ISA 13th World Congress, 16 March 2023, https://internationalsocialist.net/en/2023/03/isa-13th-world-congress-2

[2] For our critique of the ISA’s position on the Ukraine War see e.g. Michael Pröbsting: Ukraine War: Beating the Dummy. A commentary on a hidden polemic of the ISA against its internal critics, 27 February 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/ukraine-war-beating-the-dummy/; by the same author: Protests in Iran and Ukraine War: The ISA’s Double Standard. Unprincipled “socialists” combine opposition against Ukrainian resistance struggle with support for draconic Western sanctions against Iran, 28 October 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/protests-in-iran-and-ukraine-war-the-isa-s-double-standard/; A Confirmation, Unfortunately. The ISA officially reiterates its refusal to defend the Ukraine against Putin’s invasion, calling it an “inter-imperialist proxy war”, 29 July 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/a-confirmation-unfortunately/; Boycotting the Ukrainian Resistance Is Neither Internationalist Nor Socialist! On the “International Socialist Alternative” and its refusal to support the Ukraine’s war of defence against Russian imperialism, 10 June 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/isa-boycotts-the-ukrainian-resistance/; Nao Hong: ISA: A Kautsky-Type of International, 28 July 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/isa-a-kautsky-type-of-international/; Yossi Schwartz: The ISA, by opposing the delivery of weapons to Ukraine to fight Russian imperialism, serves Russian imperialism, 14.04.2022, https://the-isleague.com/the-isa-by-opposing-the-delivery-of-weapons-to-ukraine-to-fight-russian-imperialism-serves-russian-imperialism/

[3] Left Voice: Neither NATO Nor Putin: An Anti-war Program for an Anti-war Protest, March 19, 2023, https://www.leftvoice.org/neither-nato-nor-putin-an-anti-war-program-for-an-anti-war-protest/

[4] For a critique of the position of FT/PTS on the Ukraine War see e.g. Michael Pröbsting: No to Workers Boycott against Russia but Yes to Boycotting the Ukraine? On the support of the PTS/FT for boycott actions against arms shipments for the Ukraine, 26 March 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/pts-ft-workers-sanctions-against-ukraine/; by the same author: Ukraine War: Once More on Military Aid and Inter-Imperialist Rivalry. A critical contribution to a debate among Trotskyists in the U.S., 7 January 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/ukraine-war-once-more-on-military-aid-and-inter-imperialist-rivalry-rsop-dc-srs-ft-lit/; Ukraine War: A Mistaken Polemic. Reply to a critique of the FT/PTS of LIT-CI’s defence of the Ukraine, 13 September 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/ukraine-war-a-mistaken-polemic/

[5] For a political and economic analysis of the Ukraine see e.g. the pamphlet by Michael Pröbsting: Ukraine: A Capitalist Semi-Colony. On the exploitation and deformation of Ukraine’s economy by imperialist monopolies and oligarchs since capitalist restoration in 1991, January 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/ukraine-a-capitalist-semi-colony/

[6] We refer readers to a special page on our website where more than 160 RCIT documents on the Ukraine War and the current NATO-Russia conflict are compiled: https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/compilation-of-documents-on-nato-russia-conflict/. In particular we refer to the RCIT Manifesto: Ukraine War: A Turning Point of World Historic Significance. Socialists must combine the revolutionary defense of the Ukraine against Putin’s invasion with the internationalist struggle against Russian as well as NATO and EU imperialism, 1 March 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/manifesto-ukraine-war-a-turning-point-of-world-historic-significance/; see also: Manifesto on the First Anniversary of the Ukraine War. Victory to the heroic Ukrainian people! Defeat Russian imperialism! No support whatsoever for NATO imperialism! 10 February 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/manifesto-on-first-anniversary-of-ukraine-war/.

[7] Our most detailed works on the Marxist theory of imperialism are two books by Michael Pröbsting: Anti-Imperialism in the Age of Great Power Rivalry. The Factors behind the Accelerating Rivalry between the U.S., China, Russia, EU and Japan. A Critique of the Left’s Analysis and an Outline of the Marxist Perspective, RCIT Books, Vienna 2019, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/anti-imperialism-in-the-age-of-great-power-rivalry/; The Great Robbery of the South. Continuity and Changes in the Super-Exploitation of the Semi-Colonial World by Monopoly Capital Consequences for the Marxist Theory of Imperialism, RCIT Books, 2013, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/great-robbery-of-the-south/

[8] See on this e.g. Michael Pröbsting: A Marxist Slogan and its Caricature. On the social-imperialist distortion of the slogan “The Main Enemy Is At Home” in the context of the Ukraine War and the Taiwan Strait Crisis, 17 August 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/the-marxist-slogan-the-main-enemy-is-at-home-and-its-social-imperialist-distortion/; by the same author: The Ukraine War and the Second Sino-Japanese War: A Historical Analogy. The dual tactic of Marxists in the Ukraine War today draws on the approach of their predecessors in the war between China and Japan in 1937-41, 10 March 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/ukraine-war-second-sino-japanese-war-a-historical-analogy/

[9] Michael Pröbsting: Is US aid to Ukraine really 'unprecedented'? New studies destroy the myth propagated by supporters of Western and Russian imperialism, 4 April 2023, https://links.org.au/us-aid-ukraine-really-unprecedented-new-studies-destroy-myth-propagated-supporters-western-and

[10] McCaul Delivers Opening Remarks at Full Committee Hearing on Ukraine Oversight and Accountability, Press Release, 29.03.2023, https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/press-release/mccaul-delivers-opening-remarks-at-full-committee-hearing-on-ukraine-oversight-and-accountability/

[11] Kiel Institute for the World Economy: The Ukraine Support Tracker: Which countries help Ukraine and how? Working Paper No. 2218, February 2023

[12] See on this e.g. RCIT: Towards a Turning Point in the Ukraine War? The tasks of socialists in the light of possible lines of development of the war of national defence in combination with the inter-imperialist Great Power rivalry, 11 March 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/towards-a-turning-point-in-the-ukraine-war/

«Украина - прокси Запада?» - факты против мифов

Новые исследования показывают ограниченный характер западной помощи Украине

Михаэль Пребстинг, международный секретарь Революционной Коммунистической Интернациональной Тенденции (RCIT), 5 апреля 2023 г. www.thecommunists.net

 

С начала войны 24 февраля 2022 года ряд самопровозглашенных троцкистов не уставали утверждать, что Украина является просто «марионеткой» западного империализма.

Приведём два примера.

На недавно состоявшемся Всемирном конгрессе ISА еще раз подтвердила свою позицию. В их заявлении говорится об «украинской модели войны косвенных посредников» американского империализма. Весь конфликт сводится к утверждению, что Вашингтон «будет вести опосредованную войну против России в своих интересах». Используя жестокие экономические санкции и вооружая украинское государство и всеобщее украинское сопротивление вторжению, США стремятся нанести удары по России и тем самым подорвать Китай, наряду с эскалацией экономической и технологической войны против самого Китая. [1] В результате, как мы указывали в нескольких статьях, ISA позорно призывает рабочих западных стран саботировать любую военную помощь Украине. [2]

Fracción Trotskista (во главе с аргентинской PTS) в основном придерживается той же позиции. В недавно распространенной листовке ее сторонники в США написали: «Это реакционная опосредованная война, которую ведут два капиталистических лагеря». [3] Товарищи даже отрицают империалистический характер России и Китая и выступают против всякой поддержки борьбы Украины за национальное самоопределение. [4]

 

Социалистический подход

 

РКИТ и все подлинные социалисты всегда выступали против такого подхода. Конечно, США и Западная Европа направляют Украине военную и экономическую помощь, надеясь ослабить своего восточного соперника. Однако это не означает, что украинская война за национальную оборону будет борьбой «на службе западного империализма». Война является результатом решимости Путина превратить страну в колонию России и решительного сопротивления украинских рабочих и народных масс защите своей свободы.

Мы рассматриваем Украину как капиталистическую, полуколониальную страну, где ее народ ведет прежде всего справедливую оборонительную войну. [5] Следовательно, РКИТ и её товарищи в России безоговорочно поддерживают освободительную борьбу Украины (включая их право на получение оружия), не оказывая никакой политической поддержки буржуазному и проНАТОвскому правительству Зеленского. В то же время мы выступаем за жесткую политику непримиримой оппозиции против всех империалистических держав — как на Западе, так и на Востоке. Следовательно, мы не поддерживаем какую-либо шовинистическую политику великой державы (например, экономические и финансовые санкции, дипломатический и культурный бойкот). [6]

Главный недостаток рассуждений тех социалистов, которые утверждают, что конфликт в Украине является лишь «войной по доверенности», состоит в отрицании того, что украинский народ борется за свои основные национальные права. По мнению ISA, FT и организаций-единомышленников, украинский народ сражается, потому что западный империализм велит ему это делать. Но на самом деле украинские массы имеют долгую историю защиты своего национального права на самоопределение против России.

В то время как все теоретики «прокси-войны» много говорят об «империализме», они забывают или отрицают, что ключевой чертой империализма является национальный гнет и сверхэксплуатация угнетенных — прямо (в колониях) или косвенно (в полуколониях). Однако нельзя быть марксистом, не признавая центрального места такого империалистического гнета и не признавая справедливого характера национально-освободительной борьбы народов (полу)колоний. [7]

Правда, западные державы пытаются использовать войну в Украине в своих интересах. Однако это не беспрецедентное развитие событий. Как мы показали в других документах, в истории много раз случалось, что одна великая держава пыталась использовать национальную войну против соперничающей великой державы (например, восстание Ирландии против Великобритании в 1916 г., война Эфиопии против Италии в 1935/36 г. война против Японии 1937-45 гг.). Но такая тактическая поддержка со стороны той или иной великой державы не меняла общего характера этих справедливых национальных войн. [8]

 

Выявление фактов

 

Мы не собираемся здесь повторять наши аргументы по этому вопросу. Мы скорее хотим обратить внимание на два новых документа, которые показывают реальный объем западной помощи Украине. Вопреки утверждениям путинистов и сторонников позиции о «прокси-войне», помощь США и ЕС этой восточноевропейской стране не является «беспрецедентной».

Одним из документов является заявление Майкла Маккола, председателя комитета по иностранным делам Палаты представителей США. Второе — это подробное исследование, опубликованное Кильским институтом мировой экономики. Поскольку автор этих строк подробно сообщил об этих документах, мы ограничимся кратким изложением основных выводов. [9]

Председатель комитета Палаты представителей США указал в публичном заявлении, что только небольшая часть помощи США Украине напрямую направлена на Украину. «Из 113 миллиардов долларов, выделенных в рамках четырех дополнений, примерно 60 процентов идет на нужды американских войск, американских рабочих и на модернизацию американских запасов. На самом деле только 20 процентов финансирования идет непосредственно украинскому правительству в виде прямой бюджетной помощи.» [10]

Другими словами, только 1/5 американской помощи Украине фактически идет непосредственно Украине, а 3/5 идет Пентагону и другим американским учреждениям! Таким образом, помощь Украине — это прежде всего «помощь» американскому империализму, а точнее — субсидии из государственного бюджета США американским монополиям и Пентагону.

Исследование Кильского института мировой экономики, базирующегося в Германии, содержит множество подробных данных о западной помощи Украине и делает интересные исторические сравнения. Как мы подробно показали в нашей вышеупомянутой статье, исследование показывает, что, рассчитанная как доля экономического производства, помощь Украине была довольно небольшой для крупных западных держав, таких как США, Германия, Франция или Великобритания (между 0,31%- 0,37% ВВП). [11]

Исследование также показывает, что помощь США Украине намного меньше, чем помощь во время прошлых войн. Это становится очевидным, когда авторы приводят данные о помощи США СССР и другим союзникам во время Второй мировой войны или о военных расходах США в войне в Корее, войне во Вьетнаме, войне в Персидском заливе в 1990/91 гг., войне в Афганистане в 2001 г. (плюс последующая оккупация) или война в Ираке в 2003 г. (плюс последующая оккупация). Военные расходы в год во всех этих войнах были намного больше, чем помощь Запада Украине в 2022 году. Даже среднегодовые военные расходы США в Афганистане были немного больше, чем помощь Украине.

 

Выводы

 

Эти два документа демонстрируют, что — вопреки утверждениям путинистов и сторонников «прокси-войн» — западная помощь Украине не является «беспрецедентной» по историческим меркам. Эти факты показывают, что поддержка довольно ограничена. Тем более, что в руководящих кругах западного империализма существует растущая тенденция подталкивать Украину к завершению войны и принятию тупиковой ситуации с Россией, т. е. к соглашению с оккупацией Путиным нескольких регионов на Юге и Востоке их страны. [12]

Основные выводы, на наш взгляд, следующие:

1. Хвастовство западных правительств своей «беспрецедентной» помощью Украине служит как внутриполитическим, так и внешнеполитическим целям. Однако по историческим меркам их поддержка не особенно велика.

2. Кроме того, необходимо учитывать разрыв между обещанной Украине помощью и действительно оказанной помощью. Кроме того, как сообщил председатель комитета Палаты представителей США, только 20% американской помощи идет непосредственно Киеву, а 60% - американским монополиям и Пентагону.

3. Поэтому мы решительно опровергаем тезис путинистов и теоретиков «прокси-войны» о том, что Украина будет бороться не за свое национальное освобождение, а просто за интересы западного империализма. Социалисты должны поддерживать право Украины на получение материальной помощи (в том числе оружия) отовсюду, где это возможно. Они должны выступать против любых политических условий, налагаемых западными правительствами на такую помощь. Такая позиция должна сочетаться с революционным пораженческим подходом против всех империалистических держав — как на Западе, так и на Востоке.

РКИТ призывает всех подлинных социалистов, разделяющих такой подход, активизировать сотрудничество и объединить усилия в борьбе за последовательную интернационалистическую и антиимпериалистическую позицию. Мы суммировали такой подход в лозунге: Защитим Украину от путинского нашествия! Остерегайтесь НАТО и Зеленского — превратите сопротивление российской оккупации в Народную войну! Против русского и против НАТОвского империализма!

 

[1] ISA: Epoch of Multiple Crises - We Have a World to Win! ISA 13th World Congress, 16 March 2023, https://internationalsocialist.net/en/2023/03/isa-13th-world-congress-2

[2] For our critique of the ISA’s position on the Ukraine War see e.g. Michael Pröbsting: Ukraine War: Beating the Dummy. A commentary on a hidden polemic of the ISA against its internal critics, 27 February 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/ukraine-war-beating-the-dummy/; by the same author: Protests in Iran and Ukraine War: The ISA’s Double Standard. Unprincipled “socialists” combine opposition against Ukrainian resistance struggle with support for draconic Western sanctions against Iran, 28 October 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/protests-in-iran-and-ukraine-war-the-isa-s-double-standard/; A Confirmation, Unfortunately. The ISA officially reiterates its refusal to defend the Ukraine against Putin’s invasion, calling it an “inter-imperialist proxy war”, 29 July 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/a-confirmation-unfortunately/; Boycotting the Ukrainian Resistance Is Neither Internationalist Nor Socialist! On the “International Socialist Alternative” and its refusal to support the Ukraine’s war of defence against Russian imperialism, 10 June 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/isa-boycotts-the-ukrainian-resistance/; Nao Hong: ISA: A Kautsky-Type of International, 28 July 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/isa-a-kautsky-type-of-international/; Yossi Schwartz: The ISA, by opposing the delivery of weapons to Ukraine to fight Russian imperialism, serves Russian imperialism, 14.04.2022, https://the-isleague.com/the-isa-by-opposing-the-delivery-of-weapons-to-ukraine-to-fight-russian-imperialism-serves-russian-imperialism/

[3] Left Voice: Neither NATO Nor Putin: An Anti-war Program for an Anti-war Protest, March 19, 2023, https://www.leftvoice.org/neither-nato-nor-putin-an-anti-war-program-for-an-anti-war-protest/

[4] For a critique of the position of FT/PTS on the Ukraine War see e.g. Michael Pröbsting: No to Workers Boycott against Russia but Yes to Boycotting the Ukraine? On the support of the PTS/FT for boycott actions against arms shipments for the Ukraine, 26 March 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/pts-ft-workers-sanctions-against-ukraine/; by the same author: Ukraine War: Once More on Military Aid and Inter-Imperialist Rivalry. A critical contribution to a debate among Trotskyists in the U.S., 7 January 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/ukraine-war-once-more-on-military-aid-and-inter-imperialist-rivalry-rsop-dc-srs-ft-lit/; Ukraine War: A Mistaken Polemic. Reply to a critique of the FT/PTS of LIT-CI’s defence of the Ukraine, 13 September 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/ukraine-war-a-mistaken-polemic/

[5] For a political and economic analysis of the Ukraine see e.g. the pamphlet by Michael Pröbsting: Ukraine: A Capitalist Semi-Colony. On the exploitation and deformation of Ukraine’s economy by imperialist monopolies and oligarchs since capitalist restoration in 1991, January 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/ukraine-a-capitalist-semi-colony/

[6] We refer readers to a special page on our website where more than 160 RCIT documents on the Ukraine War and the current NATO-Russia conflict are compiled: https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/compilation-of-documents-on-nato-russia-conflict/. In particular we refer to the RCIT Manifesto: Ukraine War: A Turning Point of World Historic Significance. Socialists must combine the revolutionary defense of the Ukraine against Putin’s invasion with the internationalist struggle against Russian as well as NATO and EU imperialism, 1 March 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/manifesto-ukraine-war-a-turning-point-of-world-historic-significance/; see also: Manifesto on the First Anniversary of the Ukraine War. Victory to the heroic Ukrainian people! Defeat Russian imperialism! No support whatsoever for NATO imperialism! 10 February 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/manifesto-on-first-anniversary-of-ukraine-war/.

[7] Our most detailed works on the Marxist theory of imperialism are two books by Michael Pröbsting: Anti-Imperialism in the Age of Great Power Rivalry. The Factors behind the Accelerating Rivalry between the U.S., China, Russia, EU and Japan. A Critique of the Left’s Analysis and an Outline of the Marxist Perspective, RCIT Books, Vienna 2019, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/anti-imperialism-in-the-age-of-great-power-rivalry/; The Great Robbery of the South. Continuity and Changes in the Super-Exploitation of the Semi-Colonial World by Monopoly Capital Consequences for the Marxist Theory of Imperialism, RCIT Books, 2013, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/great-robbery-of-the-south/

[8] See on this e.g. Michael Pröbsting: A Marxist Slogan and its Caricature. On the social-imperialist distortion of the slogan “The Main Enemy Is At Home” in the context of the Ukraine War and the Taiwan Strait Crisis, 17 August 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/the-marxist-slogan-the-main-enemy-is-at-home-and-its-social-imperialist-distortion/; by the same author: The Ukraine War and the Second Sino-Japanese War: A Historical Analogy. The dual tactic of Marxists in the Ukraine War today draws on the approach of their predecessors in the war between China and Japan in 1937-41, 10 March 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/ukraine-war-second-sino-japanese-war-a-historical-analogy/

[9] Michael Pröbsting: Is US aid to Ukraine really 'unprecedented'? New studies destroy the myth propagated by supporters of Western and Russian imperialism, 4 April 2023, https://links.org.au/us-aid-ukraine-really-unprecedented-new-studies-destroy-myth-propagated-supporters-western-and

[10] McCaul Delivers Opening Remarks at Full Committee Hearing on Ukraine Oversight and Accountability, Press Release, 29.03.2023, https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/press-release/mccaul-delivers-opening-remarks-at-full-committee-hearing-on-ukraine-oversight-and-accountability/

[11] Kiel Institute for the World Economy: The Ukraine Support Tracker: Which countries help Ukraine and how? Working Paper No. 2218, February 2023

[12] See on this e.g. RCIT: Towards a Turning Point in the Ukraine War? The tasks of socialists in the light of possible lines of development of the war of national defence in combination with the inter-imperialist Great Power rivalry, 11 March 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/towards-a-turning-point-in-the-ukraine-war/

 

 

"¿Ucrania es un representante de Occidente?" – Hechos versus Mitos

Nuevos estudios muestran el carácter limitado de la ayuda occidental a Ucrania

Por Michael Pröbsting, Secretario Internacional de la Corriente Comunista Revolucionaria Internacional (CCRI), 5 de abril de 2023, www.thecommunists.net

 

Desde el comienzo de la guerra el 24 de febrero de 2022, varios autoproclamados trotskistas no se han cansado de afirmar que Ucrania simplemente serviría como un “representante” del imperialismo occidental. Para dar dos ejemplos.

En su Congreso Mundial realizado recientemente, la ISA, una vez más, confirmó su posición. Habla sobre "el 'modelo de Ucrania' de una guerra proxy indirecta" del imperialismo estadounidense. Todo el conflicto se reduce a la afirmación de que Washington “libraría su propia guerra proxy contra Rusia en sus propios intereses. Mediante el uso de sanciones económicas viciosas y armando al estado ucraniano y a la resistencia general ucraniana contra la invasión, los EE. UU. pretenden asestar golpes a Rusia y, a través de esto, socavar a China, junto con su creciente guerra económica y tecnológica contra la propia China”. [1] Como resultado, como hemos señalado en varios artículos, la ISA llama vergonzosamente a los trabajadores de los países occidentales a sabotear cualquier ayuda militar a Ucrania. [2]

La Fracción Trotskista (encabezada por el PTS argentino) comparte básicamente la misma posición. En un folleto distribuido recientemente, sus partidarios en los EE. UU. escribieron: “Esta es una guerra proxy reaccionaria que libran dos campos capitalistas”. [3] Los camaradas incluso niegan el carácter imperialista de Rusia y China y se oponen a cualquier apoyo a la lucha de Ucrania por la autodeterminación nacional. [4]

 

Enfoque socialista

 

La CCRI y todos los socialistas auténticos siempre se han opuesto a tal enfoque. Por supuesto, es cierto que EE. UU. y Europa Occidental están enviando ayuda militar y económica a Ucrania, con la esperanza de debilitar a su rival del Este. Sin embargo, esto no significa que la guerra de defensa nacional de Ucrania sea una lucha “al servicio del imperialismo occidental”. La guerra es el resultado de la determinación de Putin de transformar el país en una colonia de Rusia y la resistencia decidida de las masas obreras y populares ucranianas para defender su libertad.

Consideramos a Ucrania como un país capitalista y semicolonial donde su gente está librando, ante todo, una guerra justa de defensa nacional. [5] En consecuencia, la CCRI y sus camaradas en Rusia apoyan incondicionalmente la lucha de liberación de Ucrania (incluido su derecho a obtener armas) sin prestar ningún apoyo político al gobierno burgués y pro-OTAN de Zelensky. Al mismo tiempo, defendemos una política estricta de oposición intransigente contra todas las potencias imperialistas, tanto en Occidente como en Oriente. Por lo tanto, no apoyamos ninguna política chovinista de Gran Potencia (por ejemplo, sanciones económicas y financieras, boicot diplomático y cultural). [6]

El principal defecto de los argumentos de los socialistas que afirman que el conflicto en Ucrania sería simplemente una “guerra proxy” es su negación de que el pueblo ucraniano esté luchando por sus derechos nacionales fundamentales. Según la ISA, FT y organizaciones afines, el pueblo ucraniano lucha porque el imperialismo occidental les dice que lo hagan. Pero, de hecho, las masas ucranianas tienen una larga historia de defensa de su derecho nacional a la autodeterminación contra Rusia.

Si bien todos los teóricos de la "guerra proxy" hablan mucho sobre el "imperialismo", olvidan o niegan que una característica clave del imperialismo es la opresión nacional y la superexplotación de los oprimidos, directa (en colonias) o indirectamente (en semi-colonias). Sin embargo, no se puede ser marxista sin reconocer el lugar central de tal opresión imperialista y sin reconocer el carácter justo de las luchas de liberación nacional de los pueblos en (semi-)colonias. [7]

Es cierto que las potencias occidentales tratan de utilizar la Guerra de Ucrania para sus propios intereses. Sin embargo, esto no es un desarrollo sin precedentes. Como mostramos en otros documentos, ha sucedido muchas veces en la historia que una Gran Potencia trató de utilizar una guerra nacional contra una Gran Potencia rival (por ejemplo, la rebelión irlandesa contra Gran Bretaña en 1916, la guerra de Etiopía contra Italia en 1935/36, la guerra de China guerra contra Japón 1937-45). Pero tal apoyo táctico de tal o cual Gran Potencia no alteró el carácter total de estas guerras nacionales justas. [8]

 

Hechos reveladores

 

No es nuestra intención en este lugar repetir nuestros argumentos sobre este tema. Preferimos llamar la atención sobre dos nuevos documentos que muestran la cantidad real de ayuda occidental para Ucrania. Contrariamente a las afirmaciones de los putinistas y los teóricos de la "guerra proxy", la ayuda de EE. UU. y la UE al país de Europa del Este no es "sin precedentes".

Un documento es una declaración de Michael McCaul, presidente del Comité de Asuntos Exteriores de la Cámara de Representantes de los Estados Unidos. El segundo es un estudio detallado publicado por el Instituto Kiel para la Economía Mundial. Como el autor de estas líneas ha informado detalladamente sobre estos documentos, nos limitamos a resumir los principales hallazgos. [9]

El presidente del Comité de la Cámara de Representantes de EE. UU. ha revelado en una declaración pública que solo una pequeña proporción de la ayuda de EE. UU. a Ucrania se destina directamente a Ucrania. “De los 113 mil millones de dólares asignados a través de cuatro suplementos, aproximadamente el 60 por ciento se destina a las tropas estadounidenses, los trabajadores estadounidenses y la modernización de las reservas estadounidenses. De hecho, solo el 20 por ciento de la financiación va directamente al gobierno ucraniano en forma de asistencia presupuestaria directa”. [10]

En otras palabras, ¡solo 1/5 de la ayuda estadounidense para Ucrania va directamente a Ucrania, mientras que 3/5 va al Pentágono y otras instituciones estadounidenses! Por lo tanto, la ayuda a Ucrania es ante todo “ayuda” para el imperialismo estadounidense, o para ser más precisos, subsidios del presupuesto público estadounidense a los monopolios estadounidenses y al Pentágono.

El estudio del Instituto Kiel para la Economía Mundial con sede en Alemania proporciona muchos datos sobre la ayuda occidental a Ucrania en detalle y hace interesantes comparaciones históricas. Como mostramos en detalle en nuestro artículo mencionado anteriormente, el estudio revela que, calculada como parte de la producción económica, la ayuda a Ucrania ha sido bastante pequeña para las principales potencias occidentales como EE. UU., Alemania, Francia o Gran Bretaña (entre 0,31 y 0,37% del PIB). [11]

El estudio también muestra que la ayuda estadounidense a Ucrania es mucho menor que las contribuciones durante guerras pasadas. Esto se hace evidente cuando los autores proporcionan cifras de la ayuda de EE. UU. a la URSS y otros aliados durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial o del gasto militar de EE. UU. en la Guerra de Corea, la Guerra de Vietnam, la Guerra del Golfo en 1990/91, la Guerra de Afganistán en 2001 (más la siguiente ocupación) o la Guerra de Irak en 2003 (más la siguiente ocupación). El gasto militar por año en todas estas guerras fue mucho mayor que la ayuda occidental a Ucrania en 2022. Incluso el gasto militar anual promedio de EE. UU. en Afganistán fue ligeramente mayor que la ayuda a Ucrania.

 

Conclusiones

 

Estos dos documentos demuestran que, contrariamente a las afirmaciones de los putinistas y los teóricos de la "guerra proxy", la ayuda occidental a Ucrania no es "sin precedentes" según los estándares históricos. Estos hechos muestran que su apoyo es bastante limitado. Este es aún más el caso, ya que existe una tendencia creciente dentro de los círculos dirigentes del imperialismo occidental de presionar a Ucrania para que ponga fin a la guerra y acepte un punto muerto con Rusia, es decir, aceptar la ocupación de Putin de varias regiones en el sur y al este de su país. [12]

Las principales conclusiones, a nuestro juicio, son las siguientes.

1. Los alardes de los gobiernos occidentales sobre su ayuda "sin precedentes" a Ucrania sirven tanto para fines internos como de política exterior. Sin embargo, su apoyo no es particularmente grande según los estándares históricos.

2. Además, hay que tener en cuenta el desfase entre la ayuda prometida a Ucrania y la ayuda realmente entregada. Además, como ha revelado el presidente del Comité de la Cámara de Representantes de EE. UU., solo el 20 % de la ayuda de EE. UU. va directamente a Kiev, mientras que el 60 % va a los monopolios de EE. UU. y al Pentágono.

3. Por lo tanto, refutamos enérgicamente la tesis de los putinistas y de los teóricos de la "guerra proxy" de que Ucrania no lucharía por su liberación nacional sino simplemente por los intereses del imperialismo occidental. Los socialistas deberían apoyar el derecho de Ucrania a obtener ayuda material (incluyendo armas) de donde sea posible. Deberían oponerse a cualquier condición política adjunta a dicha ayuda por parte de los gobiernos occidentales. Tal postura debe combinarse con un enfoque derrotista revolucionario contra todas las potencias imperialistas, tanto en Occidente como en Oriente.

La CCRI llama a todos los socialistas auténticos que comparten tal enfoque a intensificar la colaboración y unir fuerzas en la lucha por una posición internacionalista y antiimperialista consecuente. Hemos resumido tal enfoque en el lema: ¡Defendamos a Ucrania contra la invasión de Putin! ¡Cuidado con la OTAN y Zelensky, transforma la resistencia contra la ocupación rusa en una guerra popular! ¡Contra Rusia y contra el imperialismo de la OTAN!

 



[1] ISA: Epoch of Multiple Crises - We Have a World to Win! ISA 13th World Congress, 16 March 2023, https://internationalsocialist.net/en/2023/03/isa-13th-world-congress-2

[2] Para nuestra crítica de la posición de la ISA sobre la Guerra de Ucrania, véase, p. Michael Probsting: Ukraine War: Beating the Dummy. A commentary on a hidden polemic of the ISA against its internal critics, 27 February 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/ukraine-war-beating-the-dummy/; por el mismo autor: Protests in Iran and Ukraine War: The ISA’s Double Standard. Unprincipled “socialists” combine opposition against Ukrainian resistance struggle with support for draconic Western sanctions against Iran, 28 October 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/protests-in-iran-and-ukraine-war-the-isa-s-double-standard/; A Confirmation, Unfortunately. The ISA officially reiterates its refusal to defend the Ukraine against Putin’s invasion, calling it an “inter-imperialist proxy war”, 29 July 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/a-confirmation-unfortunately/; ¡Boicotear la resistencia ucraniana no es ni internacionalista ni socialista! Sobre la “Alternativa Socialista Internacional” y su negativa a apoyar la guerra de defensa de Ucrania contra el imperialismo ruso, 10 de junio de 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/isa-boycotts-the-ukrainian-resistance/#anker_2; Nao Hong: ISA: A Kautsky-Type of International, 28 July 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/isa-a-kautsky-type-of-international/; Yossi Schwartz: The ISA, by opposing the delivery of weapons to Ukraine to fight Russian imperialism, serves Russian imperialism, 14.04.2022, https://the-isleague.com/the-isa-by-opposing-the-delivery-of-weapons-to-ukraine-to-fight-russian-imperialism-serves-russian-imperialism/

[3] Left Voice: Neither NATO Nor Putin: An Anti-war Program for an Anti-war Protest, March 19, 2023, https://www.leftvoice.org/neither-nato-nor-putin-an-anti-war-program-for-an-anti-war-protest/

[4] Para una crítica de la posición de FT/PTS sobre la Guerra de Ucrania, véase, p. Michael Probsting: ¿No al boicot obrero contra Rusia, pero sí al boicot a Ucrania? Sobre el apoyo del PTS/FT a las acciones de boicot contra los envíos de armas a Ucrania, 26 de marzo de 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/pts-ft-workers-sanctions-against-ukraine/#anker_3; por el mismo autor: Guerra de Ucrania: una vez más sobre la ayuda militar y la rivalidad interimperialista. Una contribución crítica a un debate entre trotskistas en los EE. UU., 7 de enero de 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/ukraine-war-once-more-on-military-aid-and-inter-imperialist-rivalry-rsop-dc-srs-ft-lit/#anker_1; Guerra de Ucrania: una polémica equivocada. Respuesta a una crítica del FT/PTS hacia la defensa de Ucrania por parte de LIT-CI, 13 de septiembre de 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/ukraine-war-a-mistaken-polemic/#anker_2

[5] Para un análisis político y económico de Ucrania, véase, p. el folleto de Michael Pröbsting: Ucrania: una semicolonia capitalista. Sobre la explotación y deformación de la economía de Ucrania por parte de los monopolios imperialistas y los oligarcas desde la restauración capitalista en 1991, enero de 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/ukraine-a-capitalist-semi-colony/#anker_9

[6] Remitimos a los lectores a una página especial en nuestro sitio web donde se compilan más de 160 documentos de la CCRI sobre la guerra de Ucrania y el conflicto actual entre la OTAN y Rusia: https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/compilation-of-documents-on-nato-russia-conflict/. En particular, nos referimos al Manifiesto de la CCRI: Guerra de Ucrania: un punto de inflexión de importancia histórica mundial. Los socialistas deben combinar la defensa revolucionaria de Ucrania contra la invasión de Putin con la lucha internacionalista contra el imperialismo ruso, la OTAN y la UE., 1 de marzo de 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/manifesto-ukraine-war-a-turning-point-of-world-historic-significance/#anker_3; ver también, Manifiesto en el Primer Aniversario de la Guerra de Ucrania. ¡Victoria al heroico pueblo ucraniano! ¡Derrotar al imperialismo ruso! ¡Ningún apoyo al imperialismo de la OTAN!, 10 de febero de 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/manifesto-on-first-anniversary-of-ukraine-war/#anker_4;

[7] Nuestros trabajos más detallados sobre la teoría marxista del imperialismo son dos libros de Michael Pröbsting: Anti-imperialismo en la Era de la Rivalidad de las Grandes Potencias. Los factores detrás de la Rivalidad acelerada entre los E.U, China, Rusia, la U.E y Japón. Una crítica del análisis de la izquierda y una semblanza de la Perspectiva Marxista, RCIT Books, Vienna 2019, https://www.thecommunists.net/home/espa%C3%B1ol/libro-anti-imperialismo-en-la-era-de-la-rivalidad-de-las-grandes-potencias/; The Great Robbery of the South. Continuity and Changes in the Super-Exploitation of the Semi-Colonial World by Monopoly Capital Consequences for the Marxist Theory of Imperialism, RCIT Books, 2013, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/great-robbery-of-the-south/

[8] Ver sobre esto, p. ej. Michael Pröbsting: Una consigna marxista y su caricatura. Sobre la tergiversación socialimperialista de la consigna “El principal enemigo está en casa” en el contexto de la Guerra de Ucrania y la Crisis del Estrecho de Taiwán, 17 de agosto de 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/the-marxist-slogan-the-main-enemy-is-at-home-and-its-social-imperialist-distortion/#anker_2; La guerra en Ucrania y la segunda guerra chino-japonesa: una analogía histórica. La táctica dual de los marxistas en la actual Guerra en Ucrania se basa en el enfoque de sus predecesores en la guerra entre China y Japón en 1937-1941, 10 de marzo de 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/ukraine-war-second-sino-japanese-war-a-historical-analogy/#anker_1;

[9] Michael Pröbsting: ¿La ayuda estadounidense a Ucrania es realmente "sin precedentes"? Nuevos estudios destruyen el mito propagado por los partidarios del imperialismo occidental y ruso, 4 abril, 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/home/espa%C3%B1ol/#anker_3, (en idioma ingles, https://links.org.au/us-aid-ukraine-really-unprecedented-new-studies-destroy-myth-propagated-supporters-western-and)

[10] McCaul Delivers Opening Remarks at Full Committee Hearing on Ukraine Oversight and Accountability, Press Release, 29.03.2023, https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/press-release/mccaul-delivers-opening-remarks-at-full-committee-hearing-on-ukraine-oversight-and-accountability/

[11] Kiel Institute for the World Economy: The Ukraine Support Tracker: Which countries help Ukraine and how? Working Paper No. 2218, February 2023

[12] Ver, p. ¿Hacia un punto de inflexión en la guerra de Ucrania? Las tareas de los socialistas a la luz de las posibles líneas de desarrollo de la guerra de defensa nacional en combinación con la rivalidad interimperialista de las Grandes Potencias, 11 de marzo de 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/towards-a-turning-point-in-the-ukraine-war/#anker_1

“우크라이나는 서방의 대리인이다”? - 사실 對 신화

- 조사연구들은 우크라이나에 대한 서방 원조의 제한적 성격을 보여준다

 

미하엘 프뢰브스팅, 혁명적 공산주의인터내셔널 동맹 (RCIT) 국제서기, 2023 4 5, www.thecommunists.net

 

 

 

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2022 2 24 전쟁 시작 이래, 많은 트로츠키주의 자임 조직들이 우크라이나가 서방 제국주의의 "대리인"으로 복무한다고 여전히 주장하고 있다. 가지 예를 들어보겠다.

ISA(국제사회주의대안) 최근 열린 세계대회에서 다시 조직의 입장을 확인했다. 제국주의의 간접 대리전 우크라이나 모델 운운하고 있다. 다음과 같은 주장으로 전쟁 전체를 간단히 정리한다. "미국은 자신의 이익을 위해 러시아에 대한 대리전을 벌이고 있다. 미국은 악랄한 경제 제재를 사용함으로써, 그리고 우크라이나 국가와 우크라이나 저항 일반을 무장시킴으로써 러시아에 타격을 가하는 것을 목표로 하고 있다. 이를 통해 중국을 약화시키는 것도 목표로 하고 있다. 중국을 겨냥한 경제·기술 전쟁을 고조시키는 것과 병행해서 말이다."[1] 그에 따라 ISA 서방 나라의 노동자들에게 우크라이나로 가는 군사 원조 일체를 사보타지 하라고 촉구한다. 그렇게 해서 러시아의 제국주의 식민 전쟁을 돕는다.[2]

아르헨티나 사회주의노동자당(PTS) 주도의 국제 조직 FT (트로츠키주의 분파) 기본적으로 같은 입장이다. FT 미국 조직 레프트보이스는 최근 배포한 리플렛에서 이렇게 썼다. "이것은 양대 자본주의 진영에 의해 수행되고 있는 반동적 대리전이다."[3] 동지들은 심지어 러시아와 중국의 제국주의적 성격을 부정하고 우크라이나 민족자결권 투쟁에 대한 어떠한 지지에도 반대한다.[4]

 

사회주의적 방침

RCIT 비롯한 모든 진정한 사회주의자들은 언제나 이러한 접근태도에 반대해왔다. 물론, 미국과 서유럽이 경쟁상대방 러시아를 약화시키고자 우크라이나에 군사·경제 원조를 보내고 있는 것은 사실이다. 그러나 이것으로 우크라이나의 민족방위전쟁이 "서방 제국주의에 봉사하는" 투쟁이 되는 것은 아니다. 전쟁은 우크라이나를 러시아의 식민지로 바꿔놓겠다는 푸틴의 결심의 결과물이자, 민족억압의 굴레를 깨고 자결권을 비롯한 민족적 권리를 지켜내겠다는 우크라이나 노동자·민중의 결연한 저항의 결과물이다.

우크라이나는 자본주의 반식민지 나라다. 반식민지 인민이 일차적으로 민족방위 정의전을 벌이고 있다.[5] 그에 따라 RCIT RCIT 러시아 지부는 우크라이나의 해방투쟁을 (무기를 얻을 권리를 포함하여) 무조건 지지한다. 부르주아·친나토 젤렌스키 정부에 어떠한 정치적 지지도 주지 않고서 말이다. 동시에, 우리는 모든 제국주의 열강 서방이든 중러든 대한 엄격한 비타협적 반대 정책을 제창한다. 우리가 어떤 배외주의 대국 정책 (경제·금융 제재든, 외교·문화 보이콧이든 일체의)에도 반대하는 이유다.[6]

우크라이나 분쟁이 "대리전쟁" 불과하다는 주장의 주요 결함은 우크라이나 인민이 그들의 기본적인 민족적 권리를 위해 싸우고 있다는 사실을 부인한다는 있다. ISA FT, 그리고 그와 같은 생각을 가진 단체들에 따르면, 우크라이나 인민이 싸우는 것은 서방 제국주의가 그렇게 하라고 시켜서라고 한다. 그러나 실제로는, 우크라이나 대중은 러시아에 대항하여 민족자결권을 수호해온 오랜 역사를 가지고 있다.

모든 "대리전" 이론가들은 "제국주의" 대해 이야기는 많이 하지만, 제국주의의 여러 표지 중에서도 핵심적인 표지가 민족 억압과 피억압 인민에 대한 초과착취 직접적으로 (식민지에서), 또는 간접적으로 (반식민지에서) 라는 것을 잊거나 부정한다. 그러나 그러한 제국주의적 억압에 맞선 싸움의 핵심 중요성을 인정하지 않고는 맑스주의자일 없다, ()식민지 인민의 민족해방투쟁의 정당한 성격을 인정하지 않고는 맑스주의자일 없다.[7]

서방 열강들이 우크라이나 전쟁을 자신의 이익을 위해 이용하려고 한다는 것은 사실이다. 그러나 이것은 전례 없는 일이 아니다. 우리가 다른 문서들에서 여러 제시했듯이, 강대국이 경쟁 상대방 강대국에 대항하는 ()식민지 나라의 민족 전쟁을 이용하려고 했던 예는 역사상 여러 있었다, (예를 들어, 1916 아일랜드의 영국에 대한 반란에서 독일의 지지, 1935/36 에티오피아의 이탈리아에 대한 전쟁에서 영국·프랑스의 지지, 1937-45 중국의 일본에 대한 전쟁에서 미국의 지지 ). 그러나 또는 강대국의 그러한 전술적 지지가 이들 정의의 민족전쟁의 전체적 성격을 바꿔놓지 못했다.[8]

 

실태를 보여주는 사실들

여기서는 문제에 대한 우리의 주장을 반복하지 않겠다. 그보다는 우크라이나에 대한 서방 원조의 실제 액수를 보여주는 개의 새로운 문서에 독자들을 주목시키고자 한다. 푸틴주의자들 "대리전" 이론가들의 주장과 달리, 동유럽 나라에 대한 미국과 EU 원조는 "전례 없는" 수준이 아니다.

문서 하나는 미국 하원 외교위원회 위원장인 마이클 맥컬의 성명서다. 다른 하나는 키일 세계경제연구소가 발표한 상세한 연구보고서다. 문서들에 대해서는 필자가 이미 다른 글에서 자세히 보고한 있으므로, 여기서는 주요 결론을 요약하는 것으로 국한하겠다.[9]

하원 위원장의 공개 성명서는 우크라이나에 대한 미국의 원조 작은 일부만이 우크라이나에 직접적으로 도움이 된다고 밝히고 있다. "4개의 추가경정예산에 걸쳐 책정된 1,130 달러 60% 미군 부대와 미국인 노동자에게, 그리고 미국 비축물 현대화에 투여되고 있다. 실제로는, 자금의 20%만이 직접적인 예산 지원의 형태로 우크라이나 정부에 집적 전달되고 있다."[10]

다시 말해서, 우크라이나에 대한 미국 원조의 5분의 1만이 실제로 우크라이나에 직접 전달되고, 5분의 3 국방부를 비롯한 밖의 기관들에게로 간다! 따라서 우크라이나 원조는 무엇보다도 일차적으로 제국주의에 대한 "원조"이며, 보다 정확하게는 미국 공공 예산에서 미국 독점체들과 국방부에게 퍼주는 보조금이다.

독일에 본부를 키일 세계경제연구소의 연구보고서는 서방의 우크라이나 원조에 대한 많은 데이터를 상세하게 제공하며 흥미로운 역사적 비교 조사를 해주고 있다. 우리가 위에서 언급한 기사에서 자세히 보여주었듯이, 연구보고는 우크라이나 원조가 (GDP에서 차지하는 비율로 계산할 ) 미국이나 독일, 프랑스, 영국과 같은 주요 서방 열강들에게 약소한 비중 (GDP 0.31-0.37%)이었다는 것을 밝혀주고 있다.[11]

연구보고서는 미국의 우크라이나 원조가 과거 전쟁 때의 원조보다 액수가 훨씬 작다는 것을 보여준다. 보고서 저자들은 2 세계대전 소련을 비롯한 밖의 동맹국들에 대한 미국의 원조 수치나, 또는 한국 전쟁, 베트남 전쟁, 1990/91 걸프 전쟁, 2001 아프간 전쟁 ( 이어진 점령), 2003 이라크 전쟁 ( 이어진 점령)에서의 미국 군사지출 수치를 제시하고 있는데 모든 전쟁에서 연간 군사 지출은 2022 서방의 우크라이나 원조보다 액수가 훨씬 컸다. 심지어는 아프간에서의 평균 미군 지출도 우크라이나 원조보다는 컸다.

 

결론

문서는 푸틴주의자들 "대리전" 이론가들의 주장과는 달리 서방의 우크라이나 원조가 역사적 기준에서 "전례가 없는" 것이 아님을 보여준다. 이러한 사실들은 서방의 지원이 제한적 지원이라는 것을 보여준다. 서방 제국주의 주도 세력 내에 우크라이나를 압박하여 전쟁을 끝내고 현재의 교착 상태를 수용하도록 푸틴이 우크라이나 남부 동부의 여러 지역을 점령한 것을 받아들이도록 하려는 경향이 확산되고 있다는 점에서 더욱 그렇다.[12]

우리가 주요 결론은 다음과 같다.

1. 우크라이나에 대한 "전례 없는" 원조에 대한 서방 정부들의 자랑은 대외정책 목적뿐만 아니라 국내정책 목적도 겨냥한 양수겸장 포석이다. 그러나 그들의 지원은 역사적 기준으로 특별히 크지 않다.

2. 우크라이나에 약속한 원조 액수와 실제 인도된 원조 액수 사이의 차이를 고려해야 한다. 이에 더해, 하원 외교위원장이 밝혔듯이 미국 원조의 20% 직접 우크라이나로 , 60% 미국 독점체들과 국방부로 간다.

3. 따라서 우리는 우크라이나가 민족해방을 위해서가 아니라 단지 서방 제국주의의 이익을 위해 싸우는 것일 뿐이라는 푸틴주의자들 "대리전" 이론가들의 테제를 강력하게 반박하는 바다. 사회주의자들은 우크라이나가 가능한 모든 곳에서 물질적 원조 (무기를 포함하여) 받을 권리를 지지해야 한다. 사회주의자들은 서방 정부의 그러한 원조에 달린 일체의 정치적 조건에 반대해야 한다. 이러한 입장은 모든 서방과 · 모든 제국주의 열강에 대한 혁명적 패배주의 노선과 결합되어야 한다.

RCIT 이러한 방침을 공유하는 모든 사회주의자들에게 일관된 국제주의·반제국주의 입장으로 싸우는 하나로 힘을 합칠 것을 촉구한다. 우리는 이러한 방침을 다음과 같은 슬로건으로 요약해놓았다. 푸틴의 침공에 대항하여 우크라이나를 방어하라! 나토와 젤렌스키를 조심하라! 러시아 점령에 맞선 저항을 인민전쟁으로 전화하라! 러시아 제국주의와 서방 제국주의 모두에 맞서자!

 

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[1] ISA: Epoch of Multiple Crises - We Have a World to Win! ISA 13th World Congress, 16 March 2023, https://internationalsocialist.net/en/2023/03/isa-13th-world-congress-2

[2] 우크라이나 전쟁에 대한 ISA 입장을 비판한 우리의 글로는, 다음을 보라. Michael Pröbsting: Ukraine War: Beating the Dummy. A commentary on a hidden polemic of the ISA against its internal critics, 27 February 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/ukraine-war-beating-the-dummy/; 같은 저자, <이란 항쟁과 우크라이나 전쟁: ISA 이중 잣대 - 무원칙한 사회주의자들 우크라이나 저항투쟁에 대한 반대와, 혹독한 이란 제재 촉구를 결합시키다>, 2022 10 28, https://blog.wrpkorea.org/2022/11/isa.html; <제국주의와 반식민지 간의 전쟁에서 반식민지 방어를 거부하는 것은 제국주의를 지지하는 것과 같다 - “제국주의 대리전이라며 침공에 맞서 우크라이나를 방어하길 거부하는 자칭 사회주의 세력>, 2022 7 29, https://blog.wrpkorea.org/2022/08/blog-post_17.html; <“대리전이라며 우크라이나 인민의 저항투쟁을 보이콧 하는 것은 국제주의도, 사회주의도 아니다! - 러시아 제국주의에 대항하여 우크라이나의 방위 전쟁을 지지하길 거부하는 ISA 대하여>, 2022 6 10, https://blog.wrpkorea.org/2022/06/blog-post_16.html; Nao Hong: ISA: A Kautsky-Type of International, 28 July 2022, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/isa-a-kautsky-type-of-international/; Yossi Schwartz: The ISA, by opposing the delivery of weapons to Ukraine to fight Russian imperialism, serves Russian imperialism, 14.04.2022, https://the-isleague.com/the-isa-by-opposing-the-delivery-of-weapons-to-ukraine-to-fight-russian-imperialism-serves-russian-imperialism/

[3] Left Voice: Neither NATO Nor Putin: An Anti-war Program for an Anti-war Protest, March 19, 2023, https://www.leftvoice.org/neither-nato-nor-putin-an-anti-war-program-for-an-anti-war-protest/

[4] 우크라이나 전쟁에 대한 FT/PTS 입장을 비판한 우리의 글로는, 다음을 보라. <러시아에 대한 노동자 보이콧에는 반대, 그러나 우크라이나를 보이콧 하는 것에는 찬성? - PTS/FT 우크라이나로 가는 무기 선적에 대한 보이콧 행동 지지에 대하여>, 2022 3 26. https://blog.wrpkorea.org/2022/06/blog-post_68.html; 같은 저자, “대리전 테제/ 무기 전달 반대론: ‘ 중심주의와 단절해야 한다! - 레프트보이스 · 워커스보이스 · RSOP/DC/SRS 미국 트로츠키주의자들의 논쟁에 붙여>, 2023 1 7, https://blog.wrpkorea.org/2023/01/blog-post_82.html; <우크라이나의 민족방위 전쟁을 부정하고, 서방 제국주의에 봉사하는 대리전쟁 불과하다는 PTS/FT 중립 입장에 대하여>, 2022 9 13, https://blog.wrpkorea.org/2022/09/ptsft_17.html

[5] 우크라이나에 대한 사회구성체 평가분석으로는 다음 팜플렛을 보라. 미하엘 프뢰브스팅, <우크라이나 사회성격: 자본주의 반식민지 사회구성체 - 1991 자본주의 복고 이래 제국주의 독점체와 과두재벌에 의한 우크라이나 경제의 착취와 기형화에 대하여>, 2023 1, https://blog.wrpkorea.org/2023/02/blog-post_22.html

[6] 우크라이나 전쟁과 나토-러시아 분쟁에 관한 170 편의 RCIT 문서가 다음의 우리 웹사이트 특별 페이지에 수록되어 있다. https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/compilation-of-documents-on-nato-russia-conflict/. 특히 다음 문서를 보라. < [RCIT 선언] 우크라이나 전쟁: 세계사적 의의를 갖는 전환점에서 사회주의자들의 임무>, 2022 3 1, https://blog.wrpkorea.org/2022/05/rcit.html; 다음도 보라. 우크라이나 전쟁 1주년에 즈음한 RCIT 격문 - 영웅적인 우크라이나 인민에게 승리를! 러시아 제국주의에게 패배를! 나토 제국주의를 지지해선 된다!>, 2023 2 10, https://blog.wrpkorea.org/2023/02/1-rcit.html; RCIT: Towards a Turning Point in the Ukraine War? The tasks of socialists in the light of possible lines of development of the war of national defence in combination with the inter-imperialist Great Power rivalry, 11 March 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/towards-a-turning-point-in-the-ukraine-war/

[7] 맑스주의 제국주의론에 대한 우리의 가장 상세한 저작으로는, 다음 책을 보라. 미하엘 프뢰브스팅, <강대국 패권쟁투 시대에 반제국주의> 2019, https://blog.wrpkorea.org/2022/06/blog-post_9.html; 같은 저자, The Great Robbery of the South. Continuity and Changes in the Super-Exploitation of the Semi-Colonial World by Monopoly Capital Consequences for the Marxist Theory of Imperialism, RCIT Books, 2013, https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/great-robbery-of-the-south/

[8] 이에 대해서는 다음을 보라. 미하엘 프뢰브스팅, <“주적은 국내에 있다!”: 맑스주의 슬로건과 그것의 희화 - 우크라이나 전쟁과 대만해협 사태의 맥락 속에서 슬로건의 사회제국주의적 왜곡에 대하여>, 2022 8 17, https://blog.wrpkorea.org/2022/08/blog-post_29.html; 같은 저자, <우크라이나 전쟁과 2 중일전쟁: 역사적 유추 - 오늘 우크라이나 전쟁에서 맑스주의자들의 이중 전술은 1937-41 중일전쟁 당시 선배 맑스주의자들의 방법을 따른다>, 2022 3 10, https://blog.wrpkorea.org/2022/05/2_26.html

[9] Michael Pröbsting: Is US aid to Ukraine really 'unprecedented'? New studies destroy the myth propagated by supporters of Western and Russian imperialism, 4 April 2023, https://links.org.au/us-aid-ukraine-really-unprecedented-new-studies-destroy-myth-propagated-supporters-western-and

[10] McCaul Delivers Opening Remarks at Full Committee Hearing on Ukraine Oversight and Accountability, Press Release, 29.03.2023, https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/press-release/mccaul-delivers-opening-remarks-at-full-committee-hearing-on-ukraine-oversight-and-accountability/

[11] Kiel Institute for the World Economy: The Ukraine Support Tracker: Which countries help Ukraine and how? Working Paper No. 2218, February 2023

[12] 이에 대해서는 다음을 보라. RCIT: Towards a Turning Point in the Ukraine War? The tasks of socialists in the light of possible lines of development of the war of national defence in combination with the inter-imperialist Great Power rivalry, 11 March 2023, https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/global/towards-a-turning-point-in-the-ukraine-war/