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Ukraine - Survival Vital to the US
Written by Laurence F. Sanford, Senior Research Analysts, American Security Council Foundation
Ukraine’s survival is vital to the US and Western Civilization. The fall of Ukraine to Russia would lead to more aggression in Moldova, the Baltic countries, and Poland. China would be heartened to invade Taiwan.
Russia’s President Putin is the modern-day equivalent of Germany’s Führer, Hitler, of the 1930s. Common features of both autocrats include:
1. Grievances against outsiders for lost territory, wealth, and prestige.
2. Ethnic superiority.
3. Hatred of Western Civilization’s individual freedoms and free market economy.
4. Alliances with other autocrats.
a. Hitler – Axis with Japan and Italy
b. Putin – New Axis of Evil alliance with China, North Korea, and Iran
The West slept while Hitler built up Germany’s military and seized neighboring lands in the name of uniting Germanic peoples. Putin wants to resurrect the old Soviet Union communist empire, whose demise Putin called the greatest tragedy of the twentieth century.
Ukrainians are not Russians. The history is complicated, but Ukraine generally looks West toward Western Europe and not East toward Russia.
It is doubtful that Crimea will return to Ukraine. From 1783 to 1954, Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire; prior to that, it was part of the Ottoman Empire.
The Ukrainians have surprised the world with their resilience, innovation, and courage in the face of the Russian invasion. Ukraine’s survival has been dependent on military and economic aid from the United States and Western Europe.
The Trump administration has not authorized further American military aid. The aid now flowing through pipelines, approved by the Biden administration, is expected to end in a few months. If no further American military assistance is forthcoming, Ukraine will likely fall. The ramifications of such a fall will be far greater to America than the disgraces of Afghanistan and Vietnam.
It is vital that the non-Russian-speaking area of Ukraine stays independent and acts as a buffer to Russian expansionism. Ukraine is part of Western Civilization. The cost of American aid to help Ukraine survive is “chump change” compared to the cost of losing Ukraine to Russia.