In the early hours of Feb. 28, 2014, unmarked Russian soldiers dubbed “Little Green Men” rolled into Crimea, seizing strategic objectives and local government buildings. Eight years later, the Russian Government authorized what they referred to as a “Special Military Operation,” really a full-scale invasion, to “Demilitarize” and “Denazify” Ukraine.
Three years later, despite U.S. assistance in Intelligence and Military hardware, the Trump Administration has done a complete about-face on the matter. Trump has called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “Dictator,” and only five weeks into his presidency, cut off aid before reinstating it again. So dear reader, why should you care about what happens in Ukraine?
Despite what the President, political talking-heads and financial cliques have claimed if not lied, the U.S. response toward the Russo-Ukrainian War has real impacts on not just Europe, not just our soil and grain, but the entire world.
What must be understood is that Ukraine is fighting the next war, the same one that will be fought in the fields of Poland or the Mountains of Taiwan, or as President Zelenskyy has ominously warned, perhaps our own shores as well. By providing aid to Ukraine, we gain the insight and time needed to further develop our own combat capabilities. In the meantime, we chip away at the capabilities of our adversaries with no boots on the ground required.
Our government allowing such brazen acts from our enemies puts the authority and credibility of the International Order in dire straits, showing that countries don’t need to participate in the cooperation and goodwill between their fellow states and can instead brutally invade their smaller neighbors.
Despite this, President Trump’s recent comments show himself to be far more conciliatory and aligned toward the poor man’s shadow of the Soviet Union rather than our actual allies.
The truth is, years down the line, we may see this invasion as a mere portion of a Third World War, just as the Manshū Incident and Second Sino-Japanese War are often considered a portion of the greater scope of the Second World War.
So how should our government respond to this situation? Aside from ending the constant slew of antagonistic remarks against our friends, the United States Government should continue its support for Ukraine and increase the pressure on the Russian Government. Peace talks should continue however territories must be returned to the Ukrainian Government.
The Ukrainian Government’s Polity and Independence must have its security guaranteed, while it may not last long it should give Ukraine more time to prepare and possibly join NATO. If the Russian Government refuses these demands then we should continue our full support. To show weakness in a matter like this is detrimental to the world and to ourselves.
