PHNOM PENH: The Chairman of the Fifth National Assembly, Sous Yara, has said that the crisis in Ukraine has a long and complicated history, making it very difficult to resolve. Speaking at a roundtable discussion on tensions between NATO and the Russian Federation at the Royal Academy of Cambodia on Friday morning, Sous Yara spoke about the history of European issues that only became stabilized in the mid-19th century by the Paris Charter in 1990, and the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances.

He added that Ukraine has been in trouble with Russia since 2014 after ousting President Viktor Yanukovych because he refused to join NATO. He added that the intention of Ukraine to enter NATO by the next president has raised Russia's concerns, especially regarding the missiles that could be deployed by NATO in the country. He said now the Ukraine issue has become a game of US and Russian powers, with one key point being the air force.

He said, "Russia and the United States agreed on the terms of what is considered a war. About three days ago, the word ‘Helicopter’ was adopted into the agreement, so as long as there is no Russian Helicopter flying into Ukraine, it is not considered war, or when there is no Ukrainian helicopter flying into Russia, it is not considered war! Because it is considered that the ‘Great War’ is a war that involves attacks from the air. [...] There is possibility of ground battle, which is considered a land clash. What the British needed immediately was anti-tank weapons. We see that the game of their countries is big and we are small, we just sit and listen, but we have to keep up with the situation, so the key is not to have a war in the sky."

He added that the case of Ukraine can be studied in the context of the ASEAN region, considering which countries are subordinate states, and which countries need high art in response to the political geography of superpowers.

He further continued that he always says if Ukraine had a leader like Prime Minister Hun Sen, then they may have been able to find a way out of the conflict. But if there is a crisis of leadership, like there currently is in Ukraine, then it is very difficult to resolve. He stressed that this is why it is important for Cambodia to maintain whatever unity exists around its leaders.

He said, "Soldiers show off their muscles while the commander engages in negotiations. But if the commander is in the war zone they will talk about when they will win, and when they will attack. [The battle zone] is a place for soldiers. So that’s why when we saw the Russian commander eating bread it means even with just a piece of bread I can stay alive. These are all signs that we are diplomats who see how hard the situation in Ukraine is. I always say for the situation in Ukraine, if they have Prime Minister Hun Sen, they may find a way out of the conflict. But if there is a crisis of leadership, then it is very difficult. Cambodia must maintain whatever unity exists around their leaders.”

Sous Yara concluded that in the context of geopolitical competition, the establishment of a neutral, non-aligned country as practiced by Cambodia and Prime Minister Hun Sen, is the most appropriate way to avoid any threat to security and national peace.