T

he Ukraine conflict that erupted at the weekend is disturbing given the implications of whatever response the US decides to make against Russia's decision to invade its weaker neighbor.

The ball is in the US' court, but whichever way it moves, it will cast uncertainty on the future of the region and for global peace and stability ' and this is without mentioning how Russia will react to a potential US response.

Russia has made no secret that it has sent troops to Ukraine to protect its own national interests as its neighbor underwent political turbulence following the ouster of the pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych last week.

Russia's invasion is so far confined to Crimea, which it sees as strategic to its national security and where there is a sizable community of ethnic Russians. The presence of Russian troops was even welcomed by the majority of the population there.

NATO has warned that Russia's seizure of Crimea is threatening peace in Europe, but ruled out possible steps to rein Russia in.

Ukraine, in the meantime, has denounced Russia's move as an act of aggression and a virtual declaration of war. The new provisional pro-West government in Kiev is mobilizing the army to prepare for war with its giant, military superior neighbor.

The conflict, or war, may escalate in the next few days.

Whichever way we look at it, Russia's actions amounted to an act of aggression against another country, in violation of international law.

The United Nations should not tolerate such behavior and Indonesia should join with the rest of the world in condemning Russia and in calling for an immediate troop withdrawal. But there should also be no illusion that the UN Security Council will come up with a resolution to condemn Moscow given that Russia is a permanent member with veto rights.

This is why the world and Ukrainians in particular are now turning to the US, probably the only power that can persuade the Russians to pull out, either by diplomacy or, God forbid, by force.

The stakes are so high in this game of Russian roulette designed for the big boys: Russia, the US, the UN and let us not discount the possibility of China involving itself in the picture.

No one knows for sure who will fire live ammunition and who will fire blanks, but we know that at this point, US President Barack Obama holds the gun. If anyone fires live rounds, world peace will be at risk.