INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)
ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue XI November 2025
war in order to identify the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on prices. The results indicated that the
Russian-Ukrainian war negatively affected the prices of food commodities such as wheat, maize and oil. The
study found that some mining commodities such as aluminum, nickel and zinc were negatively affected by the
war. In view of this war and the possibilities of such wars in future, the study recommended that there is a need
to accelerate the transition towards clean energy by increasing investment in clean technologies such as solar,
wind, green hydrogen, and environment-friendly fuel, as many nations now aim to achieve net-zero energy
systems by or before the year 2050.
Nasir et al. (2022) examined the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict on global food crops. Descriptive
analysis and literature review were utilized to achieve the objective of the study. However, the war has
disrupted food production in Ukraine. Estimated Ukrainian wheat, soybean, and maize production in 2022-
2023 fell precipitously. On the other hand, Russian production of these three food products shows positive
growth during the same period. Furthermore, the global supply chain and food trade are hampered, causing an
increase in the world’s food prices. From March to May 2022, the average global price of wheat, soybeans,
and maize increased dramatically compared to during and before the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, this poses
a danger to global food security, particularly for low-income countries that depend heavily on food imports
from both countries. Therefore, all countries must be prepared for the possibility that the Sustainable
Development Goals cannot be achieved.
Hussein and Knol (2023) studied the Ukraine war, food trade and the network of global crises. Quantitative
data on food prices and trade and production volumes were combined with a qualitative study of the wars
socio-political ripples in at-risk regions to examine the effects of the war on the global food trade and put these
in a theoretical framework, outlining the links between geopolitics, socio-economic strains, disruptions to
global commodity markets and food insecurity. Amongst other findings, the first-order effects of the Russian
invasion have been most evident in the decline in Ukrainian agricultural output. The war led to the destruction
of production, storage and processing facilities and the loss of productive regions as a result of the occupation
or active combat.
Theoretical Framework
The Intractable Conflict Theory was used to explain this study. The theory provides a framework to understand
its persistence, deep-rooted causes, and the difficulty in resolving it through conventional diplomacy. The
theory was first proposed by Azar (1985) and later expanded upon by Louis Kriesberg (1998), who offered
insights into why certain conflicts, like the one between Russia and Ukraine, become prolonged and difficult to
resolve. The key assumptions of the Intractable Conflict Theory are that they are conflicts that are deeply
rooted in historical grievances, narratives, and collective memories. These conflicts are not merely about
territory, power, or resources but are entwined with issues of identity and legitimacy. The conflicts involve
parties who believe they face existential threats to their identity, security, or survival.
Furthermore, these conflicts are often perceived as zero-sum games, where one party’s gain is automatically
seen as the other’s loss. This view complicates conflict resolution because compromise is interpreted as
weakness. Another feature of this conflict is that they are marked by emotional and psychological barriers.
Emotions such as fear, hatred, and humiliation play a significant role in prolonging intractable conflicts. These
emotions are compounded by the personal and collective traumas experienced by both sides. Finally,
intractable conflicts often involve asymmetries of power, with one side having more resources, influence, or
military capacity. For instance, Russia, as a major global power, has superior military and economic
capabilities compared to Ukraine. However, Ukraine’s alliances with Western powers, including NATO and
the European Union, help to balance this asymmetry to some extent, while also drawing external actors into
the conflict.
According to Intractable Conflict Theory, protracted conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war tend to escalate
because the stakes are viewed in existential terms, not just for the directly involved parties but also for broader
geopolitical players. In this case, Europe’s heavy reliance on Russian energy has meant that the conflict
directly threatens its economic security and stability. The inability to find a swift resolution; due in part to the
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