The verdict of history will be devastating. The Western democracies have had several opportunities to stop Russia’s imperialist advance. But in Georgia in 2008, Crimea in 2014 and now most recently in February 2022, NATO, the EU and the rest of the civilized world have spoken and protested. Instead of punishing and stopping.
Vladimir Putin is an internationally wanted war criminal. He has murdered, tortured, imprisoned and kidnapped. He has used military force for decades to crumble the dreams of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine to tie themselves closer to the West.
Europe’s bloodiest war since World War II
He started 1000 days ago what has now become Europe’s bloodiest, deadliest war since World War II. About half a million—perhaps even more—young men and women have been killed or wounded in this illegal war of aggression. If we let Putin win, we have thrown all international conventions overboard. The UN Charter and all global jurisprudence are scrapped.
We also demonstrate with alarming clarity that our steadfastness in principle and our willingness to rescue threatened democracies (China and Taiwan are watching closely) are limited. We have to face the shame that our spines bend when someone makes noise and bangs with a baseball bat. We bow to the man who wants to crush democracy, who wants to recreate the Soviet Empire. We also have to state that we did not sufficiently realize the seriousness and broke down in our will to support Ukraine.
Ukraine has been fought with its hands tied behind its back
Now – at the same time as 100s of missiles rained down on the cities of Ukraine – the government in Kiev has finally received permission to use the long-range weapons it was given as a gift. But the approval is limited. The airfields from which the Russian bombers take off still appear to be safe. Fighting these military targets would have “an escalating effect” = fear of the Moscow regime resorting to weapons of mass destruction. The go-ahead from the White House is said to only apply to Russian and North Korean targets in the Kursk region. Ukraine has been fought with its hands tied behind the back throughout the war and ambivalence has marked, and marked the response of the country’s friends:
No nation has taken the courage to locate its military training operations inside Ukraine.
No NATO country has yet offered to take over Ukraine’s border patrols with Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, and Hungary to free up Ukrainian troops.
None of Ukraine’s allies help protect Ukrainian airspace. Russian robots can be directed down hospitals, schools and power plants in Odessa, Kharkiv and Poltava without the risk of being shot down by NATO.
And with Donald Trump back in the White House, much of the vital US aid is at risk of ending.
Recipe for lasting peace?
At desks in Stockholm, Berlin, Paris and Washington, discussions are now taking place instead about which Ukrainian regions are “reasonable” for Putin to seize. Ukraine should – think pundits – be able to let go of the idea of Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk? Then everything will be fine again, right? Yes, thank you.
Let a triumphant dictator who wants to split NATO stand as the victor, let Vladimir Putin parade as a winner next to Trump, Scholz and UN chief Guterres. Let Russian and North Korean troops set up camp on the EU’s doorstep.
Does that sound like a recipe for lasting peace?
It would be like letting the arsonist with his pockets full of matches move into the bedroom of your fire-damaged three-room apartment.