We left off yesterday pointing out that Ukraine is an electoral democracy — not a functioning or “liberal democracy,” like Finland and Sweden, where individual freedoms are protected by constitutional rights and liberties along with collective rights and liberties all enforced by the rules of law.
This is not a distinction without a difference. It is the reason Ukraine can’t join NATO now.
This doesn’t mean, however, that Team USA and NATO can’t do enough (however much that is) to help Ukraine to annihilate all Russian invaders before NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary next year in Washington, D.C.
If you take seriously that it’s important to first correct inaccurate reports about the start of the war nine years ago, there’s every reason to believe today’s diplobabble could be less wishywashy.
Unfortunately, instead of taking concrete steps now to end fascistic Russia’s genocidal campaign — read: shape the conflict — we are distracted by bullshit arguments about whether or not it’s prudent for Ukraine acceed to NATO, as if that was an option today, which it isn’t.
As for security guarantee agreements, they don’t matter after you’ve been creamed by a cruise missile. Thanks, but no thanks. Just send enough MIM-104Fs (PAC-3s).
As of this writing, we have zero (0) faith that Kahl and his colleagues are committed to help Ukraine defeat Russia. If their testimony in Congress four months ago is any indication of Biden’s resolve stand with Ukraine “for as long as it takes,” the “finish line” is Congress signing off on IG audits of how U.S. taxpayer money was spent.
So far, Team USA has given Ukraine just enough materiel and money to survive successive atrocities, e.g. war crimes, ecocides, etc.
U.S. and its allies have repeated that they will stand with Ukraine for “as long as it takes.” That sounds nice, but what exactly does “it” mean? To push out every last Russian colonizer from sovereign Ukrainian land? To commit to seeing the zhovto-blakytnyy—the “yellow and blue”—fly free over Sevastopol? Will NATO give Ukraine the planes, armor and ammunition it needs to win and keep the peace? The Biden administration is happy to share Ukrainian flags on social media instead of planting them in Crimea1.
I’m sympathetic to Thiessen’s and Biegun’s proposal for future NATO membership for Ukraine, namely:
The problem with the plan is the shaping part, which has been disastrous since 2014. I’m afraid Ukraine could be shaped out of existence before next year’s beano.
Ukrainians Die as America Dawdles. Fears of ‘escalation’ leave Russia feeling free to attack innocent civilians like Victoria Amelina (Garry Kasparov, The Wall Street Journal. July 8, 2023)