Russia’s Vladimir Putin justified usurpation of two more Ukrainian territories on Monday as a reunification of what he says has historically been “one people,” one country.
Shortly after, he ordered Russian troops into the regions for what many fear could signal a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Putin said he would “recognize the independence,” of the southern territories of Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, which include strongholds of Russian-backed separatists.
Make no mistake, Putin is fabricating stories about Ukraine forces attacking the separatists just as he did in 2014, when he bullied his way into Crimea, in violation of international law.
His goal? To invade the entirety of Ukraine. And more.
By our lucky stars, Joe Biden is a president willing to stand up to Putin.
As the backbone of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the United States’ role is critical. If Putin is allowed to overtake Ukraine, it determines the future of Europe.
So far, Biden has done a magnificent job in sending a message to not just Putin, but also to China’s Xi Jinping whose sights are on Taiwan, that he and the Western alliance that have kept peace on the continent for more than 70 years, will not sit idly by.
On the bigger, philosophical scale, the challenge to Ukraine is also about the future of freedom and the proliferation of liberal democracies.
No, not that kind of liberal, which has sadly been bastardized by the dull-witted.
But the kind our Constitution grants, giving us the privilege to elect our leaders, having separation of powers with three branches of government, and granting us individual liberties such as freedom of speech. These freedoms are unique to liberal democracies and continue to make the United States and other such countries the envy of the world. To wit, Ukrainians stand in line for visas to Europe, not Russia.
Ever since Ukraine and other former Soviet Union republics broke away after the Communist Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Ukrainians have come to appreciate the freedoms of democracy, including self-determination.
How can we help? By ensuring the members of the Western alliance stand strong against Russian forces in word and deed. Simply put, Ukraine needs to beef up its defenses to the point that the Russians think very hard about the costs of an invasion.
Because if we don’t, a full invasion of Ukraine would constitute the largest military action in Europe since World War II.
And some fear if Putin succeeds in Ukraine, his next targets will be Poland or Lithuania — or even NATO countries — in his goal to reintegrate the former Soviet Union.
The danger is grave to European stability.
