Russia’s War and Ukraine’s Mission: Three Vital Points

On crisis of compromise, failed empire, and a unified strategy regarding Russia

We mark Independence Day once a year with celebrations, speeches, and tributes. Even fireworks are there. It all looks almost like a birthday. This year, the conditions of the celebration have changed and so have the emotions. Still, everyone has the Holiday feeling as well as pride for one’s State and the memory of those to whom she and we all owe this Day. I know, like all of you, the date of our Independence Day, but it is difficult for me to say unequivocally when modern Ukraine was actually born. Perchance, it was on the Maidan. I mean modern Ukraine, not our thousand-year history. Most importantly, it has already been born as a State, a Nation and, ultimately, a country. While listening to Radio-ROKS in the morning, I often heard the beginning of the song by the band Numer 482: “Good morning, Ukraine, come on, wake up, little one...” That’s how we feel, and there’s nothing more to discuss here. All these years, the Russian regime wanted to present us as a “failed state,” insistently arguing that we have no statehood, history, language, and culture. The Russian war, on the contrary, has proved our statehood and showed Russia as a failed empire that will always fail. The Russian war against us has “launched” the 21^st century. The world after it will never be the same. It sounds a little trite, everyone reiterates it, often not understanding what, in fact, has already changed and should be changed in the future. It is obviously impossible to discuss everything in a short article, so the following is about three important things – important because our future, the future of the West, and how the first half of the 21^st century will unfold. (The first 20 years of this century seem more like the previous hundred years.)

Firstly, it is a fundamental crisis of compromise as a means of politics in general and international politics in particular. Compromise for the sake of compromise, compromise to avoid escalation at all costs turns into the need to pay an even higher price. Endless attempts to “adapt” and “engage” Russia have led to nothing. The “Partnership for Modernization” with the EU immediately after the Georgian war, as well as the following “reset” of American-Russian relations, is all about compromises. Pacifisms, interesting postmodernisms, other numerous post- and countless -isms have all proven to be platforms for discussion, but are worthless when it comes to fighting. Moreover, trolling of Ukrainians prone to clear polar thinking, recognizing “the Good and the Evil,” “treason and victory” has obviously ended. It is hard to imagine where we would be without such a mentality. Now we have to – and we will – troll the West, which, for the sake of comfort and predictability, stopped calling the Evil by its name. Reagan could refer to the USSR as an “evil empire” and treat it accordingly. A significant part of today’s West is still afraid to make a choice and distinguish between the Good the Evil. This will cost them very dearly, because the world is more and more like a western movie, where it is clear who is a “good guy” and who is a “bad one.” The “bad guys” will definitely get those who are still undecided.

The example of Ukraine should force people to stop “looping” and take a stand. Ironically, only the Russian war against Ukraine has encouraged the West to act together and become the “collective West” again.

Secondly, the Good must be armed and toothed, otherwise it stands no chance. No one will respect an amorphous Good that is unable to defend itself and win. Everyone is inspired and surprised by Ukraine and Ukrainians precisely because they are not ready to capitulate and do not want compromises that take away their future, that shame them as a State and a Nation. The West cannot remain so toothless and incapable of an adequate response to authoritarian regimes. Letting the aggressor bite off your finger now means losing your hand and then your head in the future.

Why do we need all the conventions and principles of international law if someone can disobey them and get away with it? Why is there a need to recognize the crime of aggression if there are no effective means to bring a violator to justice for it? Why is there a need for a ridiculous and impotent UN system, whose charter is being grossly violated by the permanent member of the Security Council? Similar questions abound. No one before us had even started this discussion seriously. We must lead it, we have the political and, most importantly, moral right to do so. Violations of international law must be punished in the same way as criminal offences. When speaking about “sovereignty,” the Kremlin means immunity from punishment for such crimes and the ability to do whatever they want.

The modern West is a space of people and respect for people. Meanwhile, modern Russia is its antipode. This space must win the competition for the best ideas and technologies, whilst also being armed and ready to fight for its own dominance. Look at the military budgets of the USA and the EU and compare them with those of Russia or, for instance, China. Apparently, the West should be ahead of authoritarian regimes in everything, primarily, in military technologies. However, Putin proudly and happily shows pictures of hypersonic missiles and nuclear drones during meetings with other authoritarian leaders. Not only does the West have no unequivocal dominance in these and other spheres, but is noticeably lagging behind. This is not a trivial observation at all and it also should be answered honestly, just as dozens of others.

Thirdly, the readiness to call the Evil by its name and the willingness to fight it poses the question “how to do it?” Put otherwise, is there any strategy and what does it consist of? So far, the West does not have a unified strategy regarding Russia. There is a consensus that the Russian regime must not win in Ukraine for it would also mean the defeat of the “collective” West and, in fact, reduce its role to zero in further geopolitical calculations. And then public and especially non-public discussions begin on what to do with this Russia now and in the future. The ruling regime there is not only Putin and the Russian elites, but also Russians themselves. In the West, not only do they not know what to do with this monster, but they are often afraid to have an open and tough discussion. Hence the endless talk about avoiding the “humiliation” of Putin and the desire to avoid the escalation of the war, which is manifested in precisely “calibrated” and sometimes even “dosed” weapons supplies. This position of the West offends us, but the way out should be devising a common strategy on Russia. We understand and feel it better, it is we who should propose ideas and work on them. We are to lead this struggle not only on the battlefield, but also in the space of ideas and strategies of the future.

Cato the Elder ended all his speeches with the words “Carthage must be destroyed.” Many did not believe in this and sought coexistence. The result is known to everyone from history classes. One legend has it that the Romans even sprinkled the fields of Carthage with salt to make the ground infertile. Obviously, this is not our goal, but we must be aware that the war will continue as long as the Russian regime exists. Although this is not to say that ceasefires or truces are impossible, we will never feel safe with it by our side. Currently, the regime is in despair, it perfectly understands that the period of gray zones has passed, and that Ukraine will be part of the West. The EU candidate status is part of the vision of the common future of Ukraine and the West, and we will reunite with the West as an active, passionate State and Nation. The Russian regime will never accept this, which, by the way, scares part of the West. I do not know if Putin has realized that he will never conquer Ukraine, but part of the Russian elites definitely has. This means that the Kremlin will try to occupy as much territory as possible, declaring it something like “Novorossiya,” and the rest, again, to destroy. If such a plan fails, the Russian regime will be destroyed, and many in Russia understand this very well. We are not naive and realize that it will not happen “all at once,” but it will happen. That is why we are not satisfied with the ideas that are now actively spreading in the West, such as “let’s take Putin's promise not to move forward and let him do whatever he wants.” The current Russian regime cannot be put in a cage, it will not work.

In conclusion, Ukraine has a unique chance to become a source of new drive for the West, a kind of an energizer. The West has woken up, and there is no need to write a new song with such lyrics as “Good morning, West, wake up.” Unfortunately, we have paid and are paying an insane price for this awakening. However, now we must constantly chant this song and make sure that the West begins to act in a coordinated manner based on a new strategy that does not yet exist. The task is super-ambitious, but we have already accomplished so many things! The best and indeed the only guarantee of our security will be a rapid and complete integration into the Western world. Combining the unique mental code of the Ukrainian nation with Western values ​​means respect for people who do not respect compromises for the sake of compromises. “Treason” cannot be sold as “victory,” the Good must be good, and the Evil must be evil; the Good must be fought for, it must be armed to the teeth and ready for battle. Ukrainians and Ukraine have a mission: to make the West and others understand this. We have a lot to learn from the West, starting with the rule of law. However, the West also has a lot to learn from Ukraine. Confident people do not have an inferiority complex or megalomania. They are themselves – for themselves and for the world. This is what our real Independence is all about. We remember and honor all heroes and move on. And the failed empire must be destroyed.

 Read this article in russian and Ukrainian.