Analysis in DW: Ukraine will survive, but the West should be ashamed. Had he not remained consciously indifferent…

Thursday, February 24, 2022, this day we will never forget. The day when the crazy Russian leadership started a big war against Ukraine. The day for which Ukrainians and their friends around the world have long been prepared, and yet hoped, that it would never come. The day on which the Kremlin simply ignited a war in Europe.

Many ask in astonishment: How could this be achieved? The answer is given by a quote from Winston Churchill: “You had the choice between war and shame. “You chose shame and now you are taking the fight.” The scale of the intervention leaves no doubt: Russian troops have attacked Ukraine, just as they did about 100 years ago, when Ukraine first declared independence. The consequences of this monstrous step will shock the world.

The fatal mistake of the West

The West bears a great responsibility for this development. When Russia invaded Ukraine for the first time in 2014 after declaring its independence in 1991 and annexed Crimea, the West decided on shame, according to Churchill. The heads of state and government of the United States, Germany, and other Western powers have held the Ukrainian government with both hands, begging it not to resist. Russian President Vladimir Putin should not be “provoked” in any way. Motive: Exactly 100 years after the First World War, the West feared a new hotbed of world war. Understandably though, this was a fatal mistake.

Russia intoxicated by the success in Crimea went further with the war in the Donbas in eastern Ukraine. The West, on the other hand, very reluctantly provided Ukraine with weapons (Germany completely rejected this move) and was afraid to impose harsh punitive measures on Moscow. Only after the crash against the Malaysian MH17 passenger plane were certain sanctions imposed on the Russian economy. But they were limited and weak, so much so that Russia came to the conclusion that it could continue without encountering any serious resistance.

Time to help Kiev

Even Ukraine has underestimated the degree of stupidity of the Moscow leadership and the attitude of the majority of the Russian population, which does not perceive Ukraine as an independent state. However, many Ukrainians slept on the laurels of security: “We are neighbors, lighthouse and tribe – Russia will not attempt an open war.” The Kiev government itself at the time did not sever diplomatic relations with Russia, sending a false signal to its allies in the West. This according to the motto: things are not so bad.

In this way he lost the chance, to prevent the war that started now. The leaders of the Western states had decided to negotiate with Russia, in the hope that they would return the reason to the aggressor. But this attitude as shown and the history of mankind has never been successful. Even in Ukraine such a position has failed. Russia has used the proceeds from its oil and gas exports to develop new weapons and prepare for an apocalyptic war – not just against Ukraine but against the West as a whole. It has been warned many times, it has all been made public – the Kremlin and its propagandists have never hidden their intentions. And yet the West preferred to close its eyes. In fact the faces of Western politicians should blush with shame.

Ukraine does not return to Moscow control. Now is the time to correct the mistakes and help Ukraine by all means. There will be fighting, bloodshed, maybe even an occupier regime and a long partisan war. Ukraine will lose many of its best sons and daughters. But she will survive – there is no doubt about that. Ukrainians will never agree to withdraw from Moscow. This time has passed and never returns.

After Russia? The path of aggression that Moscow is pursuing against Ukraine and the entire Western world will sooner or later end in a catastrophe. Maybe after that Russia will have the chance for a fresh start. But now all freedom-loving people are Ukrainians.DW

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