This seems to be the penultimate political question of the day – with rifts in both parties over the worthiness of Zelenskyy and his supporters, the question of the Soviet Russian threat to the West, the worthiness of NATO to be saved by the largess of the United States, and the seemingly ever-expanding periphery of players in the conflict – Moldova, China, Iran, Turkey, etc.

First, let us address the many givens of the situation.  Many will cry foul on both sides, but these are the facts.

Given 1 – Ukraine exists as an independent nation, and Russia has no right to its territory.

The fact is that the collapse of the Soviet Union led directly to the independence of Ukraine via the Belavezha Accords, and eventually The Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, which among many stipulations, “fixed the principle of strategic partnership, the recognition of the inviolability of existing borders, and respect for territorial integrity and mutual commitment not to use its territory to harm the security of each other (Council of Europe, 1994; United Nations, 1999).” In short – Ukraine was established, and Russia recognized the borders then set as sacrosanct.

Given 2 – Russia, specifically Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, regrets ceding Crimea to Ukraine, and has designs on reuniting the Former Soviet Union under the Russian flag.

Ceding Crimea to Ukraine, from the Russian Soviet Federation of Socialist Republics (RSFSR) to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (UkrSSR) in 1954, and negotiating use of Crimea’s ports with the dissolution of the USSR, was soon seen to be a huge mistake by much of the Kremlin’s leadership – especially Putin (Kramer, 2014). This was solidified with Putin’s annexation of Crimea (as well as the breakaway oblasts in Eastern Ukraine, in 2014 (Pifer, 2020). Putin has repeatedly and often stated that he wishes to restore the territorial majesty of the USSR. In short – the initial invasion and support of breakaway oblasts in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine were part of Putin’s desire to correct perceived mistakes made by the Soviet Union, and ultimately restore former Soviet states to Russian rule – despite his denials (Bullough, 2014; Reuters, 2018; Giles, 2022).  

Given 3 – The US and NATO supported and encouraged Euromaidan protests, which led directly to the overthrow of the Ukrainian government (granted – it was crooked), and left Russia/Putin feeling the pressure of NATO expansion.

Euromaidan may not have ever been much more than the typical European rowdiness that every country on the continent seems to experience every few years. However, the Obama Administration, along with high-profile Republicans like John McCain, forced the issue, all while mocking the idea of a resurgent and dangerous Russia (Carpenter, 2017; Martin, 2022; Cillizza, 2022). Meanwhile, Vice President Biden was demanding quid-pro-quo with US Tax dollars to keep his son out of Ukrainian prison (House Committee on Oversight and Reforms, 2022). Finally, the addition of several former Soviet states and subjugates to the rolls of the NATO lineup, combined with the purposeful and clear move by the US to ally with Ukraine, clearly made Russia/Putin feel threatened – regardless of whether there was any actual threat (Moskowitz, 2022). In short – regardless of intentions, events in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, along with the expansion of NATO did give Russia/Putin casus belli – from their point of view.

Given 4 – The Ukrainian government is rife with corruption, and American politicians are in bed with it.

Yes, Zelenskyy’s government is full of bad actors.  So is that of the US and every other country in the world. From the deals between Burisma and the Biden Family, to the waste fraud and abuse of the Ukrainian Army, there are issues (U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, 2020; Hayda, 2023; Minakov, 2023). Money laundering is rife, and the current US administration, like most others, has little real oversight or accountability of where wartime support is being spent – or socked away (Gorodysky, 2001; Farivar, 2022; AP/Reuters, 2023). In short – almost all politicians are corrupt, Americans included, and the straw man of corruption in Ukraine has little bearing on IF we should give aid and support – but more to the point of HOW, and what kind of oversight and accountability should be in place.

Given 5 – The US is spending too much money across the board, and the spending in support of Ukraine really only helps the US Military Industrial Complex

Which after the end of the poorly thought out and executed war and withdrawal in and from Afghanistan, along with the premature withdrawal and now recurrent forgotten small special operations war in and around Iraq, is searching for new ways to secure that sweet fat taxpayer cash of the GWOT era. Do I really need to cite this? No.

Given 6 – Ukraine has some undesirable people in its military, and has been accused of, and outright displayed war crimes, crimes against humanity, and support for Nazi ideology.

All of the above is true.  I am not going to provide links. Some of it is horrific, some merely disturbing.  Google that shit. At the danger of whataboutism – the Russians are the same way. Indeed – ALL countries have soldiers that commit evil crimes on the battlefield, including the US.  The reasons why this happens may be discussed later in a different article – another day and another time. Suffice it to say that the bottom line is how the responsible government and military leadership handles these acts. In NATO countries, generally speaking, there is zero tolerance for war crimes that are brought to light.  In Eastern Europe – not so much emphasis is placed on the Laws of Armed Conflict. See also – every war in Eastern Europe.  

Analysis –

Ukraine has a right to exist outside the control of the Soviet Russian sphere of influence. While treaties and international laws are only as good as the will of the signatories, the fact is that legally speaking, the Ukraine, Crimea, and the eastern Ukrainian oblasts DO NOT belong to Russia. If any of those territories, via self-determination in a free and fair democratic process, wanted to leave Ukraine and join Russia – there are ways that could happen without a foreign provoked (led, really) civil war.

Russia is, has been, and will likely remain, one of the most serious and legitimate threats to the West – along with China, Iran, and North Korea. Putin’s dreams of a return to the glory of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, including its “lost” states inform his designs on Ukraine. Putin wants this, regardless of NATO expansion and despite all reassurances – including those of President Obama and the rest of NATO that Russia is safe from aggressive expansion (AP Archive, 2012; NATO, 2022). Understanding this, and taking into account the many issues within Ukraine, and surrounding the reasons that Russia invaded – TWICE – leads toward a nearly inevitable conclusion that the free people of the West have a duty to assist a sovereign nation that is being trampled on by a throwback to Stalinist Soviet policy making.

Imagine had we not assisted the Soviet Union with massive Lend-Lease shipments after Hitler invaded the Soviet Union. Imagine the lives lost, and billions spent in an attempt to catch up with Hitler after he crushed the Russians. Imagine if the West – and in particular the US, had stood on the principle that Stalin and Hitler were buddies that invaded Poland together. That the Soviets were just as guilty – if not more so – of crimes against humanity as the Nazis. That until Hitler actually invaded the Soviet Union, Germany and Russia were not at war, and had a pact to support each other.

Imagine if we stood by and let Eastern Europe be gobbled up by the Soviets Russians, one oblast, one state at a time.  Remember Lebensraum?  Sudetenland ring a bell? Hell, remember the de facto annexation of South Ossetia – yeah, Russia was just “liberating” her people then as well (Dickinson, 2021).

How should it be done?

We must decide if, as a nation, we want to be involved in international relations. As the global market, and our own history all but demand, require, and insist on that participation, there is no putting the proverbial Djinn back in the bottle. However, we must also decide if we want to follow our own Constitution, and service our own interests BEFORE we service those of our friends and allies. We have nearly always provided aid and comfort to our allies since the Barbary Wars. However, we have also not spent so much money that we borrow against everything possible to maintain spending. What we are doing is unsustainable.  At some point, the rest of the world will realize that the fiat Dollar, propped up by Petrodollars, Chinese loans, and a Federal Reserve that is less than helpful at best, is less than worthless, we will see mega-ultra-turbo-platinum-inflation that will make Zimbabwe looks fiscally stable.

We must decide if the unconstitutional, unreasonable, irresponsible, crony capitalism, insider trading, and plain silly expenditures that mainly support the bid for Congressional leeches to stay in power is The Way.  Until we decide to be fiscally responsible at home, we cannot and should not send tax dollars overseas. This could be fixed with perhaps three Constitutional Amendments.  However, no one (or at least not enough) in a position of power has the honor, integrity, or intestinal fortitude to stand against the masses of those on the take.

Ukraine deserves support, and I hope they win. But it is incumbent upon Europe to do the heavy lifting, and it is incumbent upon the US to get our own house in order. Until then, material from existing stocks should be the order of the day.

References

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AP/Reuters. (2023, January 8). Ukraine war: Kyiv aid ‘money laundering scheme’. Retrieved from Euronews : https://www.euronews.com/2023/01/08/ukraine-war-kyiv-aid-money-laundering-scheme-christmas-truce-fails-ukrainians-honour-war-d

Bullough, O. (2014, March 28). Vladimir Putin: The rebuilding of ‘Soviet’ Russia. Retrieved from BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26769481

Carpenter, T. (2017, August 6). America’s Ukraine Hypocrisy. Retrieved from CATO Institute: https://www.cato.org/commentary/americas-ukraine-hypocrisy

Cillizza, C. (2022, February 27). It’s time to admit it: Mitt Romney was right about Russia. Retrieved from CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/22/politics/mitt-romney-russia-ukraine/index.html

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Farivar, M. (2022, December 7). US Charges Ukrainian ‘Russian Agent’ With Money Laundering. Retrieved from Voice of America: https://www.voanews.com/a/us-charges-ukrainian-russian-agent-with-money-laundering/6866934.html

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Hayda, J. (2023, January 27). Ukraine’s fight against corruption isn’t new. It’s still trying. Retrieved from NPR: Ukraine’s fight against corruption isn’t new. It’s still trying

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