The Ukraine war serves as a crucial indicator of the global community's reaction to the misuse of authority, according to a former British foreign minister.

• According to David Miliband, president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, this war will have a pivotal consequence because either there will be continued indifference towards the growing impunity worldwide or there will be a resolve to address it.
• The British foreign secretary stated on CNBC that approximately 275 million people in 20 countries require humanitarian aid due to the "inadequacies of diplomacy" and the "erosion of respect for the rule of law in military operations."

The International Rescue Committee's president and CEO, David Miliband, stated that the Russia-Ukraine war will have a "pivotal consequence" on how the world responds to the "growth of impunity."

The former British foreign secretary, Miliband, stated that Zelenskyy's speech to the U.N. Security Council on April 5 called for a "restructuring of the United Nations."

"Either there will be continued indifference to the increasing impunity worldwide, or there will be a resolve to confront it," he stated.

Miliband has supported earlier demands that the five permanent members of the Security Council relinquish their right to veto resolutions concerning mass atrocities.

Currently, only France backs that stance. The U.K., U.S., Russia, and China do not support it. As a result, this agenda presents a challenge for all of the so-called great powers, but some of their actions are not great.

‘Failures of diplomacy’

According to CNBC, approximately 275 million individuals in 20 nations require humanitarian assistance due to the "inadequacies of diplomacy" and the "erosion of respect for the rule of law in warfare."

The international system is witnessing an increase in impunity and the misuse of power, with those in power having complete disregard for the consequences, leaving the rest of us to suffer the aftermath. This is evident in various war zones across the globe.

The lesson of Ukraine is that it consumes us all and requires a significant countervailing power, which must be global and involve the private sector and citizens in addition to governments.

The IRC is seeking assistance for individuals in need globally, including those in Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, and Ethiopia, as stated by Miliband.

"While it's understandable that aid supplies and political bandwidth are being directed towards Ukraine, this shift can also enable continued abuse in other areas," he stated.

Since 2013, Miliband has been leading the IRC from New York, where he spoke on Thursday.

Miliband characterized the recent images of Russian troops committing atrocities against Ukrainian civilians as "shocking" and an "appalling violation of civilian rights."

Russia denies targeting civilians despite well-documented evidence to the contrary.

Over 100,000 people in Mariupol, located in the southeast of the country, have been without food, heat, water, and medicine for over six weeks, according to the speaker.

This constitutes a clear violation of the laws of war and poses a central challenge to the international legal system and regime.

Miliband stated that those in Ukraine, who are under siege, require healthcare and financial assistance because their economy has collapsed. Additionally, he emphasized the need for support for vulnerable populations, including the elderly, disabled individuals, and children.

Call to help refugees

The IRC is aiding the 4.3 million refugees who have escaped to Europe from Ukraine due to the conflict.

Over 2.5 million refugees have been accepted by Poland, where the company has been collaborating with local authorities.

Although Poland received EU funds to aid Ukraine refugees, Moldova, which is not an EU member and has seen over 400,000 refugees from Ukraine, faces a much tougher situation due to its limited infrastructure and support.

Miliband emphasized the importance of implementing a system to fulfill Biden's pledge to welcome up to 100,000 refugees to the US.

Putin’s endgame

The former British foreign secretary stated on CNBC that he believes the conflict will persist for an extended period.

Putin's ultimate goal might be to enhance the reputation of "Mother Russia."

The two significant factors influencing his decision-making at present, in my opinion, are a profound sense of victimhood resulting from perceived mistreatment of others and a high level of contempt towards liberal societies.

The idea that Russia can be great again by reuniting with Ukraine, despite historical precedents and evidence, stems from a combination of victimhood and contempt.