I am trying not to discuss Ukraine as it seems to be using someone else's misfortune to get some clicks, but as someone from a country with a unique perspective, I feel that I should say something about the effects of what is happening right now.

Perspective

What is this unique perspective? Well, I come from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the country that has gone through this and much more. Sarajevo was the city that has been under the longest siege in modern history. It lasted three times longer than the Battle of Stalingrad and more than a year longer than the siege of Leningrad. What makes this worse, this was before social media and all pleas have been falling on deaf ears. Bosnia and Herzegovina didn't have much of any support and has even been under the embargo. So, we not only didn't have help, but also couldn't get any weapons in, while the world is rallying behind Ukraine. And it should.

Russia (or rather Vladimir Putin) said that it wouldn't invade the whole country and that it is interested only in two regions and that there wouldn't be any attacks on civilian targets etc. We are now able to see that Russia didn't only get into the two regions - Lugansk and Donbas - but are also attacking other cities, that the targets aren't only military targets. As someone from a country who has heard many arguments that Bosnia and Herzegovina has been bombing itself, I can feel with the people of Ukraine listening to the same arguments trying to defend Russia's actions.

It is interesting that Russia is liberating the cities which are rich in gas, uranium (or some other nuclear material) and oil and that its actions come eight years after the supposed genocide. Now, coming from a country in which many people dismiss genocide and are openly saying that it didn't happen I really cannot comment on something I don't know about, but if there was any genocide, shouldn't there be some proceedings in Hague about this? It even goes so far that mothers don't believe their own daughters that their cities are under attack.

What it means for the rest of the world

Russia has been open about its issues that some countries are seeking membership in NATO and this was also the issue with Ukraine.

Among other countries that are seeking membership is also Bosnia and Herzegovina, but there are also Georgia, Kosovo, and the one we are talking about now - Ukraine. I am not certain if Kosovo is yet a candidate for NATO, but the current situation is definitely going to be reflected on them also. This could also be a significant development for the Taiwan and China dispute.

So, what happens now with Ukraine and how it all ends up will set a precedent of international law which may be used in the issues with Serbia and Kosovo and Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Just as a reminder, Serbia is the country that invaded Bosnia and Herzegovina in '92 and one of the very few countries that have not introduced any sanctions against Russia and that has strong ties with Russia. If Russia were to be allowed to take certain territories by force, then it is not very far fetched that Serbia could try this with Kosovo and with Bosnia and Herzegovina, already having one part of the citizens brainwashed with propaganda, like that mother that doesn't believe her own daughter her city is being shelled. Even the Russian soldiers supposedly didn't know they were going to war, but to a military exercise.

It is very sad under what circumstances this awakening comes, but it is imperative for the European Union and NATO to protect the countries which are seeking memberships in these organizations, therefore protecting peace in the whole of Europe.  Europe and the whole world cannot idly stand by and just watch what is happening in their back yard like it doesn't affect them. The war, especially when it's so close to home affects everyone. If not directly, then definitely with a great influx of refugees with which many countries are already overextended.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the possible targets of Russia because of its candidate status in NATO. Or if not Russia, then by its proxy - Serbia. And as we already mentioned, a country that already has similar disputes over territory.

Hopefully, this wake-up call comes in time and pushes some timelines for ensuring the peace in Europe, but also much of the political culture and, let's be honest, mental health. Because countries who are members of EU and NATO are countries who are deemed safe (because of everyone who is standing behind them) and are therefore more inviting to various investment opportunities. This in turn brings more jobs or easier employment somewhere in the EU, having jobs means making money, and making money means not thinking if someone will be able to put food on the table. This economic stability further means that people would be less vulnerable to the inflammatory rhetoric of their current political leaders, which would hopefully end up prosecuted. People in more stable economies are simply less burdened by lack of money and less prone to political manipulation.