President Donald Trump reportedly said he could stop Russia’s war against Ukraine by forcing Ukraine to abandon occupied Crimea and Donbas. If Ukraine agrees to make territorial concessions, it will set off a chain reaction that will lead to the end of the post-World War II order and usher in a dark age of imperialism with a strong sense of justice.
It is important to understand that Ukraine’s abandonment of Crimea and Donbass is not just a geopolitical event that affects Ukraine. Look at the international landscape. China is openly talking about invading Taiwan. Armenia and Azerbaijan clash over Nagorno-Karabakh. Iran launched more than 100 drones toward Israel in retaliation for Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria. The outcome of the unprecedented attack on Iran remains to be seen. The crisis continues. There are many more frozen and active conflicts around the world.
the end of NATO
If Ukraine were forced to give up some of its territory, it would not only embolden President Vladimir Putin, but also collapse the entire international order. Borders will no longer be sacred. A perfect storm is brewing across the globe, with the United States becoming increasingly isolationist and potentially leading to a global conflagration. In the worst-case scenario, where Ukraine loses the war, even a medium-sized state like Poland will no longer be protected by international law or the power of NATO.
We seem to forget that President Putin issued an ultimatum in December 2021 calling for the withdrawal of NATO infrastructure and capabilities from regions that did not join NATO in 1997. Putin wants to weaken Poland because it is essentially a Russian puppet state. US President Joe Biden says NATO territory is sacred, but Russia has repeatedly proven otherwise by firing missiles into Polish airspace.
Other interesting topics
ISW Russia Attack Campaign Assessment, April 13, 2024
Latest information from the Institute for War Studies.
NATO did not react for fear of escalation. Isn’t escalation occurring precisely because there is no response? The same logic applies when giving up territory to appease Russia. Appeasement didn’t work before World War II, and it won’t work now. It is very perplexing that politicians and prominent geopolitical strategists do not seem to learn from history.
An actor who cannot be called rational.
When dealing with rational actors, it makes sense to appease and negotiate. Is President Putin rational? Will he abide by whatever deal he makes? It may be counterproductive to speculate about the Russian president’s mental state, but let’s look at the facts. It is no exaggeration to say that President Putin may be suffering from a serious mental disorder.
Would any sane person start writing a random 30-minute rant about fabricated history to justify the so-called denazification of Ukraine? Only his obsession with Ukraine indicates serious mental problems. Even Tucker Carlson said the whole idea of denazification was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. President Putin seems to genuinely believe in the picture of the world he is trying to impose on us. And sadly, the Russian president has the power to turn his dastardly vision into reality if he is allowed to.
If we lived in a normal world, Russia would have been put in her place a long time ago. But in our reality, where Ukraine is accused of attacking Russian territory and assassinating Russian propagandists, and who are banned from entering because they are just civilians, Russia has committed atrocities in Ukraine. It is very unlikely that they will be appropriately punished for their actions.
The misguided diplomatic dance to appease Russia is likely to continue and will lead us down the path of genocide in Ukraine. Let’s look at the Russian bombardment of Kharkov. Russia is clearly trying to make the city uninhabitable. This genocidal scenario is likely to spread throughout Ukraine if Ukraine does not receive the American aid it desperately needs.
The consequences of Ukraine’s defeat will be severe for all of us.
Now is not the time to stand idly by and do nothing out of fear or greed. Sooner or later, each of us will have to make the next decision as a possible global firestorm approaches. If I want to participate, to what extent can I participate?”
For now, we must do everything in our power to help Ukraine maintain its territorial integrity. This isn’t the kind of reality show you can turn off when you get bored or frustrated. What happens in Ukraine will affect the planet for generations. We must make the right decisions and support Ukraine before it is too late.
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Kyiv Post.
