Why Ukraine's Victory Must Be the West's Only Goal

Ukrainians and democratic countries that support Ukraine must have as their sole objective a victory for Kiev against Putin's invading troops, US magazine The Atlantic argued Tuesday in an article by journalist and analyst Anne Applebaum.

Applebaum is an American naturalized Polish journalist, expert in Russian affairs, winner of a Pulitzer Prize and considered one of the most qualified observers on issues related to the Russian regime.

“Ukrainians and the democratic powers that support Ukraine must work towards a goal. That goal should not be a truce, or chaos, or the decision to maintain some kind of Ukrainian resistance over the next decade, nor the promise to 'bleed Russia', or anything else that will prolong the struggle and instability,” he wrote in his article in the influential American media. “That goal should be a victory for Ukraine.”

According to Applebaum, the war has reached “a turning point”. It's just that Putin and his strategists hoped that the war would last no more than six weeks. However, after more than half that time, and despite the savage bombardments of the civilian population, the Kremlin troops are stagnant.

“And it's no wonder: few Ukrainians are willing to collaborate with the occupiers. The overwhelming majority, more than 90 percent, believe they will beat them. The Ukrainian army refuses to surrender, even in cities badly damaged by the bombing,” writes the American expert.

For Applebaum, thinking of a victory for Ukraine means that the country “will remain a sovereign democracy, with the right to elect its own leaders and make its own treaties.”

“There will be no pro-Russian puppet regime in Kiev, there will be no need for prolonged Ukrainian resistance, there will be no continuous struggle,” he explained. “The Russian army is withdrawing across borders. Maybe those borders could change, or maybe Ukraine could promise neutrality, but that is for Ukrainians to decide and not for outsiders to dictate. Perhaps international peacekeepers are needed. Whatever happens, Ukraine must have strong reason to believe that Russian troops will not return quickly.”

A Ukrainian victory would have important consequences, according to the specialist. First and foremost: Ukraine would become the global symbol of the resistance of democracy and the rule of law to the advancement of tyranny. And, in addition, it would be an example that would embolden citizens of other countries who are also fighting against dictatorships and autocracies.

“Ukrainians, and especially their president, Volodymyr Zelensky, have made their cause a global cause by arguing that they are fighting for a set of universal ideas: for democracy, yes, but also for a form of civic nationalism, based on patriotism and respect for the rule of law; for a Peaceful Europe, where disputes are resolved by institutions and not by war; by resistance to dictatorship,” he wrote.

According to Applebaum, Zelensky's words in his various speeches reminded Europeans, Americans and many others around the world “how much worse the world was in the bloodiest past and how much worse it could be in the future if those principles no longer matter.”

“Citizens of existing democracies and members of the democratic opposition in Russia, Cuba, Belarus and Hong Kong will be emboldened. 'Their fight is ours, 'a Venezuelan acquaintance told me last week. The institutions that protect the states that embody these ideas, in particular the European Union and NATO, will also be strengthened,” said the journalist.

Another reason, according to Applebaum, why a victory for Ukraine is imperative is to prevent the tactics that the Russian regime uses in occupied eastern Ukraine — with disappearances of officials and civic leaders, constant threats to civilians, and forced deportations to Russia — from spreading to the rest of the country.

“In the event of a Russian victory, these tactics would be applied every day against Ukraine, creating massive terror, massive violence and instability in the coming years. And, if we accept that result, autocrats from Minsk to Caracas to Beijing will take note: genocide is now allowed.”

The US expert warns that, because there is so much at stake, the coming weeks will be “extremely dangerous”. “Putin will do what he can to create fear,” he predicts.

On the home front, “he seems to believe that only high levels of fear” will prevent people from protesting, “once they understand what has happened to their country. He may be right.”

At the same time, at the international level, Putin calls for the use of chemical, hypersonic and nuclear weapons so that “foreigners, and especially Americans, fear the consequences of helping Ukraine.”

In the face of these threats, the West should respond only one way, according to Applebaum.

“There is only one rule: We can't be afraid,” he warns. “Instead of fear, we should focus on a victory for Ukraine.”

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