Ukraine

I Don’t Think Symbolism Will Be Enough for Ukraine in the Long Run

/ Stephen Sovie
Wikimedia Commons

It’s utterly amazing how the world has united with Ukraine against the Russian invasion. I don’t think I have ever seen this amount of support from NATO, the United Nations, and people from all over the world in response to the illegal actions of a world power. The UN voted 141 to 5 in favor of condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia, of course, joined the other 4 autocratic regimes in voting against the resolution to condemn,

People in every country of the world, including Russia, have been demonstrating in huge numbers, against Russian aggression. The United States, Europe, Japan, and the West have levied economically crippling sanctions against Russia, including against Putin, himself. Many countries have forbidden Russian airlines from their air spaces, as well as denying entrance of Russian ships to their ports. The West has also frozen the assets of Russia and its corrupt oligarchs.

Ukrainians have shown the utmost courage and resolve in defending their fledgling democracy against the overwhelming power of Russia. I cannot remember such bravery in defense of one’s country in my lifetime. The last time the world had seen this courage was in defiance of Adolf Hitler. As the Ukrainians continue their resistance, Putin has intensified his attacks on the people of Ukraine, targeting civilian targets, including apartment buildings, hospitals, and even schools.

I believe we must be reminded that this has nothing to do with the Russian people. This war was started by Putin for his own personal reasons. Unfortunately all of the sanctions, won’t hurt Putin and his gang of oligarchs, but all of the Russian people. I am sure that Putin, who could possibly be the richest man in the world, has stashed away hundreds of billions of dollars, knowing that sanctions were inevitable. He does not care about how much the Russian people will suffer, or anyone else for that matter. The more sanctions that are issued the more Putin revs up his war crimes!

The West has increased the number of military arms and hardware, including stinger missiles, tanks, and aircraft, but it takes time to train the Ukrainian military in their use. And that 14-mile Russian convoy is on the outskirts of Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, waiting to capture the city. The Ukrainians have managed to stall the Russian incursion into their country and capital, but sadly the worse of Russian atrocities is yet to come. How long can Ukraine put up the good fight?

This situation reminds me of a high school football game, where the home team bleachers are packed with staunch eager supporters rooting on their team against the perennial winner big-city powerhouse team. A tremendous amount of spirit, but outnumbered in strength. The hometown football team needs a miracle. And it seems that is exactly what Ukraine needs.

How will this war end? Nobody knows. There could be negotiations to call a cease-fire which could temporarily stop the killing of civilians, but this would not end the war. Putin is not the type of person to give up and retreat, ending his war. He more likely will intensify his murderous attacks on Ukraine. Ukraine and some of her allies are calling for the West to initiate a no-fly zone over Ukraine, but this would certainly lead to confrontation with Russian aircraft, which would in turn would lead to Russian attacks on the West. Military intervention would help stop the Russian advance, but would lead to disaster. I have no doubt that Putin would use nuclear weapons, either to complete his mission, or in retaliation for Western involvement in his plans.

Putin will never win the hearts and minds of the Ukrainian people, when or if he does take Ukraine. He will have a protracted war that could eventually take him down, but it will take a very long time. What is best for Ukraine, Russia and the rest of the world is for the people of Russia to force regime change in Russia. Putin’s own people must take him down. As the number of deaths steadily increases for both Ukraine and Russia, this becomes the most sensible option for them and the world.

Advertisement

Ukrainians Know How to Fight for Their Democracy and They Put Most Americans to Shame.

/ Stephen Sovie
The Kit – Pixabay

I’ve had nothing but hope and admiration for the people and President of Ukraine, since Russia’s horrific invasion of the country, for no reason other than to destroy the young democracy and fulfill Vladimir Putin’s desire to bring back the Soviet Union. Ukraine has never been a threat to Putin’s Russia, but its successful fledgling democracy and the accompanying freedoms are.

After weeks of failed diplomacy, Putin invaded Ukraine with the full might of 2/3 of the Russian military forces. But Ukrainian President Zelinsky and the Ukrainian people would have nothing to do with Putin’s attack on the peace-loving nation. The Ukrainian people, women, and children of all ages rallied behind their duly elected leader and their military to defy the Russian troops at every step of the way. Putin miscalculated the Ukrainian people’s strong will to defend their freedoms and their country. The capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, was supposed to be Putin’s prize for the taking, but after 3 days the Ukrainians still hold the capital.

We have seen photos and newsreels showing Ukrainian women making Molotov cocktails and brandishing weapons in defense of their homes. We have seen old men volunteering to join the military to defend their homeland. We have also seen President Zelinsky, in full military gear ready to die for his country, along with his fellow countrymen. We have heard him refuse to be evacuated to safety, choosing to fight rather than seek his own personal protection.

I am amazed at the unity of the international community in standing up to Putin. Almost the entire airspace over Europe has been closed to Russia and the rest of the world, except for China and North Korea, have imposed economically crippling sanctions that will bring down Russia’s currency and hit Putin’s oligarch friends in their pocketbooks.

Tyler Merbler – Wikimedia Commons

And then we look at what’s happening at home. As the world rallies around Ukraine, Donald Trump and the Republicans in Congress are rallying around Putin. Remember it was Donald Trump who was impeached for attempting to extort Zelensky by threatening to withhold military aid unless he fabricated lies to help Trump’s re-election campaign. From the first day of the Trump administration, Trump tried to eliminate Russian sanctions imposed on Putin for his earlier incursion into Crimea. All during his term, Trump bent over backward to weaken NATO and curry favor with Putin. Trump tried to destabilize NATO, Europe and divide the American people to pave the way for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

When I see the brave patriots of Ukraine fighting for their lives, their freedom, and their country I can’t help but think of Trump and his cult of ragtag supporters attacking the U.S. Capitol because their cult leader lost the election. I remember Trump firing up his followers saying “follow me to the Capitol” and then running back to the White House to hide ( I guess those bone spurs were acting up) and letting his supporters face the dangers in the midst of the violent attack.

Then I see his supporters attacking healthcare workers, government officials, and even school children for trying to take away their freedoms, by having to wear a piece of cloth to help protect themselves and other people from dying of COVID-19. These brave patriots are willing to attack the Capitol, but they’re too damn afraid to get a simple vaccination, to protect themselves from a severe illness. Now they want to form a convoy of trucks to disrupt the flow of food and goods to their fellow citizens, goaded on by Fox News and reprobates like Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, because of non-existent mask mandates.

These pathetic excuses for Americans would drop dead of fear if they had to face the real losses of freedom that Ukrainians have been facing since the invasion. The Ukrainians stand to lose their government, their country, their homes, their businesses, and their lives. The so-called American patriots are a disgrace to America and every freedom-loving democracy in the world. They have brought shame to every veteran who put on a uniform to fight for America’s freedom far from home.

Remember the people of Ukraine in your prayers and thank God for people like them. If only all Americans valued our democracy as much as they do. They are a model to freedom-loving people all over the world.