By Daniel Dow | Editor in Chief
President Vladimir Putin addressed the world, creating a false and unjustifiable narrative for the invasion of Ukraine; a narrative that calls for the “de-Nazification” of the sovereign nation of Ukraine.
This claim comes after nearly a month-long build-up of troops along the Ukraine border, with Ukraine and its allies calling for peaceful negotiations and for troops along the board to disperse. These pleas were ignored by Russia, with Putin falsely declaring Russia would begin withdrawing troops, which was quickly spotted to be a lie by the United States and British intelligence, as troops continued to gather on the border.
Putin’s fabricated narrative is easily dismantled, as he calls for the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine, which is led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a Jew who lost his family in the holocaust. The invasion of Ukraine can truly be summed up by Putin’s speech preceding the invasion where he states that his country must attempt to revive a “historic Russia,” adding, “Ukraine has never had its own authentic statehood. There has never been a sustainable statehood in Ukraine.”
Putin remains a guard to an old world, a world that existed prior to the fall of The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), where its nation’s borders were replaced with new, independent European countries, and this includes Ukraine. A world when the USSR wielded immense political and financial power and was seen by much of the world as equal in power and influence with the United States. The fall of the Soviet Union occurred 31 years ago. Today over half of the Ukrainian population have not known life under the rule of the USSR.
Putin’s shift-in-tone and his ever-changing justifications for the Russian invasion of Ukraine should be a message to the world– Putin will do whatever is necessary to revive the power of Soviet-era Russia. A message that all members of the world need to unite to eliminate– autocratic colonialism is not welcome in the twenty-first century.
This is truly a historic moment; war has not broken out on the continent of Europe since World War II. However, there are many reasons to be hopeful including the swiftness the world has unified to support Ukraine and sanction Russia. According to CNN Business, immediately following sanctions “Russia’s main MOEX index closed down 33%, while the ruble sank to a record low.” Additionally, Germany has halted certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline; a recently completed $11 billion pipeline project controlled by Russia’s state-run energy.
The Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has called on NATO to do more, and although troops have been sent to neighboring countries who have NATO membership, President Biden has been clear that no American troops will be sent to defend Ukraine. Additionally, much of the world continues to pour in military aid to Ukraine, but the fact remains that any elevation of action by NATO could trigger a world war.
A January New York Times article wrote of Ukraine’s long denial into the NATO alliance– an action that has been seen as antagonizing action to Russia– a disruption of a delicate balance in Europe and Russia relations. This balance has long been deemed important by many European nations, not only for world peace but also because western countries have long relied on Russia’s fossil fuel supply.
Ukrainians have demonstrated the principles of freedom and Zelenskyy has echoed these sentiments through his leadership during this crisis – with a response to the United States Government “I don’t need a ride, I need more ammunition” when asked if he needs assistance in fleeing the country.
Zelenskyy stands before the world as a symbol, fighting in the trenches with the men and women of Ukraine against a Russian autocracy that looks to end democracy in its neighboring state.
The unfortunate situation of the Ukrainian people brings about truths that need to be analyzed because these people fight a force that not only threatens Ukraine’s democracy but has countless times threatened the democracy of the United States and many other nations of the world. This is a time when all nations must continue to support Ukraine regardless of the cost.
Putin would like it nothing more than to impart his will onto the world, with minimum response from the world, just like what has occurred so many times in the past. But that is no longer the case– we stand with Ukraine, its people, and for a free democratic world.
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