The world recognized this outstanding leader with President Zelenskiy’s famous statement: “What I need is ammunition, not cars.” Although in the comfort of my home, I followed with sympathetic suffering the horrors inflicted on the inhabitants of Bucha, worried for the safety of Kiev, grieved the attack on Kharkov, besieged in a heatless house. They suffered along with the villagers and the defense forces. Azovstal Iron Works in Mariupol, and the heroic but bloody defense of Avdiivka.
Wartime consolations included the sinking of Moscow and Ivanovets, the symbolic resistance on Snake Island and the restoration of control over Ukraine, the civil resistance at Kherson, the shooting down of Russian fighter jets and helicopters, the destruction of Russian tanks, brought about by the collapse of Russia. -Building bridges and torching Russian petrochemical refineries and terminals with drones. Ukraine’s resilience was evident throughout: troops in the trenches, partisan actions behind enemy lines, and Anna’s effective and witty war humor.
There is no joy in killing Russian troops during wartime, whether at the front or in the rear. Whether they are Russian or Ukrainian, they are human beings. Many of the Russians killed were conscripts caught between Ukrainian troops at the front and Russian guns at the rear. The deceased Russian suffered similar burns, his heart and brain exploded, and he died from the same blood loss as the Ukrainian.
After all, who invaded whom? What kind of trivial reason? Before the Russian invasions in 2014 and 2022, there were disagreements over language education in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine. However, looking at Russia’s wartime and pre-war actions, it is no wonder why Ukraine sought to eradicate Russia’s sense of imperial entitlement.
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Although the outcome remains to be seen, the battle to defend Ukraine will go down as one of the greatest battles in history, pitting an idealistic substate against an unprincipled great power. It remains to be seen what will happen with American military aid to Ukraine. Robert Zubrin’s recent Kyiv Post op-ed essentially warned that the US Republican Party was risking everything with its stupidity.
Recently, Trump literally invited and encouraged Russia to attack weak NATO members. Understandably, Ukrainians, other Europeans, and democracies around the world are nervous. Allies must use the next 11 months constructively to improve their defense posture, ammunition stockpiles, and weapons manufacturing capabilities.
But Europe’s response must not succumb to President Trump’s goal of defeating NATO as a fait accompli. he’s not the president. He may never be like that again. Regardless of who wins in November, the United States under the Biden administration should make the most of these 11 months to ensure the security of our allies and the United States.
We need a strong democracy regardless of Trump, but if Trump wins or otherwise secures the presidency in November, Putin’s Russia will further test the world.
President Putin aspires to the forced reconstruction of the Soviet Union and the destruction of Europe and America. Georgia and Ukraine were first on his target list. I’m sure more will follow.
The torture and neglectful death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is proof enough of Putin’s evil, but it also shows that he still does not fully control Russia itself. We must pray that Russia will spiritually recover from Putin’s evil and be rebuilt as a good and prosperous people and nation.
That hope is not unrealistic. Mr. Navalny’s courage and wisdom remain part of Russia and could erupt again, especially if Ukraine wins.
Ukraine’s success to date has depended on a steel backbone and a skillful and bold war effort. It has also depended on the global public perception that Ukraine is on the right side of the “Force.” Ukraine’s future success will depend on its ability to keep up the “good fight.” Recent history provides examples of countries moving from perhaps good fights to bad fights.
1) On 9/11, the United States was brutally attacked by Al Qaeda. We reacted furiously, as was certainly required. The world offered sympathy and alliance in the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban. False pretexts were then given to justify the Second Persian Gulf War. Reports soon emerged of torture in American and some allied prisons. The perception of moral equivalence has become clearer over time. International support gradually dried up.
2) Syria’s democratic opposition movement against the Assad regime began with a good fight. Then, after intense fighting between rebel groups, some democratic forces, in desperation, formed a de facto alliance with Jabhat al-Nusra, an al-Qaeda affiliate. Everything went dark. The noble battle had lost its ideals, and the war seemed to have become simply a brutal battle between bad guys and bad guys.
3) Israel suffered from Hamas, which reached its climax on October 7th. Hamas’s atrocities were of such scope and brutality that they appeared to be attempted genocide. Israel had global sympathy and much active support. Israel had to respond, and not lightly. Prime Minister Netanyahu responded with increasingly indiscriminate violence, arguably Israel’s own genocide against Gaza, which continues today. Initial support has given way to varying shades of opposition (some fierce) from the international community and even allies.
By remaining as morally upright as the war allows, Ukraine will have a better chance of maintaining international support despite Russian provocations that could cast a dark shadow on Ukraine. Ukraine should not respond to Russian war crimes with unnecessary comparable actions. Fight hard and fight effectively. Burn down Russian refineries, burn tanks, sink ships, and do whatever it takes to wage war if attacked. Ukraine’s most powerful strategic weapon is moral strength and clarity. We remain humane by focusing our targeting, minimizing civilian casualties, and treating prisoners appropriately. As the war rages on, the temptations of the dark side can destroy a noble cause.
Once this is over – and it will be – Ukrainians will turn their attention to demining, rebuilding and healing. Visit sunflowers, wheat fields, and coffee shops. Travel freely and safely. Create art, have fun and bring Ukrainian art back to Ukraine. Developing sustainable energy, fighting climate change, exploring space, protecting nature, and being a fun person. Most importantly, Ukrainian families can be reunited.
Please continue to fight the good fight.
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Kyiv Post.