A wonderful piece, Diane, with a brand new "mission statement" for NATO with which I fully concur. While we are rewriting the mission statement, we must ensure that the ridiculous "unanimous" vote provision is replaced with one that works. Just one Orban or Fico can throw a monkey wrench into NATO operations. I know of no corporation that would entertain such an unworldly requirement. It is suicidal and effectively gives the enemy a veto over every serious NATO decision. In addition, the new, "greatly improved" NATO should require some specific minimal level of contribution from each member in meeting its "all for one" commitment. There is nothing to prevent any member from sending an ambulance and two nurses as a show of "solidarity", in support of a prospective invasion by Russia.
Estonia - as I am sure you know - is particularly vulnerable because more than 21% of its population is of Russian heritage and Russia's FSB is more than capable of creating "disturbances" that would give the Kremlin reason to go in to "protect "Russian speakers.
Thank you for a timely and (as usual) very astute blog.
In a hurry seems to be the mandate du jour for us in a cascading number of concerns. As in, getting rid of or defanging our Stupid Manipulative Moron of a chief executive. (He is NOT MY president. and if he showed up at my front door with a cheeseburger on offer I'd spit in his eye.) On any number of these concerns we must act fast--waiting for the midterms would cost us dearly. Diane, your grasp of the dangers in Europe is acute, and there are so many other dangers. So we've mapped the terrain. Any tactical/strategic suggestions?
Norway made a very telling statement this past week. They said their secret stash amounted to $1.7 Trillion and it was disclosed in the context of providing military support to keep the Russians from winning. If Trump really wants to balance the budget, there are lots of army surplus tanks and jets he can sell off at a great price ($1mm/Abrams - $10mm/F16) So just $4B would buy a fleet of 200 jets and 2000 tanks. Now all we need is for someone to make the deal...in a nice pin stripe suit with a club tie thats a bit on the long side.
For a lasting and just peace in Europe, Putin must be defeated on the battlefield. Only when Putin has been given a bloody nose will he abandon his genocidal aims in Ukraine and accept the necessary preconditions for peace: return of prisoners and abducted children, return of stolen lands, war reparations for Ukraine, and surrender and prosecution of Russian war criminals. Anything less is appeasement and will cost Europe much more in the long run.
Here’s the difficult truth: enduring peace on the continent cannot be bought with treasure, spurious “deals,” or as-long-as-it-takes pledges of support. It must be earned—earned by those who are willing to defend democracy and the rule of law with their lives... and not just with the lives of Ukrainians.
How can Russia be defeated? Putin has shown us how. A coalition of the willing should deploy a joint military force, bearing no national insignias, into Ukraine to push Russians out. It should be made clear to everyone in advance that the purpose of this “special military operation” is to secure Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and that not a single Western soldier would set foot on Russian soil during and after the operation. Ukrainians have already done the heavy lifting, so Western forces will be facing the remnants of a battered and demoralized enemy.
If Putin can use such subterfuge, so should the West. If Putin can bring foreign fighters into the battle, why shouldn’t Ukraine?
Of course Putin will want to retaliate, but with multiple countries involved, who should he retaliate against? And if he threatens a nuclear response, he can be reminded that the UK and France are also nuclear powers, and that American and British nuclear submarines that patrol Russia’s coasts 24/7 could obliterate Moscow before any Russian missiles cleared their silos.
This kind of muscular response would:
• save Ukrainian democracy
• disabuse Putin and his successors of their expansionist fantasies
• secure a lasting peace in Europe
• uphold a world order based on the rule of law
• end Russian meddling in countries around the world, at least for a time
• encourage other despots to scale back their ambitions
• give the finger to a predatory America
• remove obstacles to Ukraine’s accession to NATO and the EU
• encourage Russian citizens to reconsider the kind of country they want to live in
• keep Ukraine’s mineral wealth in Ukrainian hands, to be used as they see fit, which is how it should be.
But right now Western leaders are not even considering this option. They are paralysed by Putin’s empty nuclear threats and hoping to concoct a cheaper, risk-free solution that has no hope of success when faced with a treacherous, murderous, myth-obsessed thug like Putin. Yes, Western leaders are willing to fight Putin to the last Ukrainian; but what’s needed is courage and boldness and vision. Because what’s at stake in Ukraine is not just the future of a nation crying for liberty; it is the future of our civilized world. If Putin is allowed to succeed in any way, the security of any and all nations will be thrown into doubt. Seeing diplomacy’s impotence against a determined aggressor, nations will scramble to acquire nuclear weapons for their own defence, and the possibility of national security and a peaceful world will become a sad, pathetic dream.
Friends of Ukraine, please forward copies of this posting to your friends and associates. Write to government officials, the government of Ukraine, media, international organizations etc. to promote the need for direct military involvement in Ukraine.
The clarity of your message is outstanding. There is little to add other than one simple question - if your outline is so obvious and intelligible to anyone who cares about “our” civilization why have our “leaders” neglected their responsibility to defend it when it has been crystal clear for years now that evil has been on the march!!
Not long ago we used to have Western leaders who could persuade us that short term pain led to long term gain for all. Now the dim wits in the WH seem to be practicing short term gain for long term pain. The US gets the temporary gains and the other guys get the irreversible pain. Beyond sad.
Thanks for the snapshots as the comedy of errors unfolds.
Despite the bad news - I remain slightly optimistic. Russia is weak right now despite Putin's rattling he's famous for. He's a better lier than Trump & keeps everyone on edge & guessing which works in his favor. Also, evidence of poor leadership among Russian military personnel who take orders from Putin with fear - not well trained in military management as well. Without USA is only a small set back . There are too many who know the result of a Russian war so the incentive to get all hands on deck is imperative. I believe they are in the 'fast' track right now.
Suggest Trump licks Putin and so do his craven team. As you argue Diane it is up to Europe to get its act together and NATO as US has turned its back on Europe.
He’s in the same delusional mode as the “perfect phone call” that got him impeached his first term in office—his shake down of Zelensky and his threats to withhold US military aid unless Ukraine “ANNOUNCE” an investigation of Biden’s son.
Now he wants an ANNOUNCEMENT of a peace agreement, an unenforceable ceasefire signed—regardless of its effect. Trump cares NOTHING about the reality of war-and-peace. He’s a delusional nihilist who seeks only to play the tough guy—a recipe for tragedy.
Why is it that only Trump and his sycophants believe Putin will entertain the possibility of a 30 day ceasefire with Ukraine? No one else does.
Why is it that Trump is believed, when he says that he only wants to stop the fighting and the “millions of deaths” taking place? He just wants the Nobel Peace Prize, he doesn’t care how many people die or what land is subjugated. He just uses threats to get his way, not negotiations. He flip-flops like a fish out of water, which is what he is.
Neither Trump, Vance or Musk (or it appears, the Republican Party) have any belief in the Rule of Law or the principles that have guided democratic nations for the past 100 years. The only principle they have is to themselves and money. The only alter they pray at is the alter of money. Alliances are just something that weaker countries want. The US is not and does not, according to Trump.
Russia is the aggressor here, Ukraine is just trying to defend itself. Why is Trump treating them as equally at fault or even blaming Ukraine for starting the war? Trump’s withdrawal from NATO, whilst at the same time setting conditions for Ukraines surrender smacks of the perception of being an overlord or a Russian asset.
I think everyone agree’s that it is about time for Europe to start looking after itself, but doing it overnight (or threatening too) and in the middle of a war is not the way to do it. Europe does not need US boots on the ground, but it does need weapon, logistical and air support until Europe can get its act together. It might take 10 years for Europe to eliminate its reliance on the US support, but it will happen and then the US may regret what it had wished for. The failure to confiscate the $300 million in frozen Russian assets is also a problem and brings into doubt Europe’s commitment to oppose Russian transgressions.
The idea of an election being held in Ukraine is just ridiculous for all the reasons you named, its in the middle of an existential war and when was the last time Russia held a fair & free election?
I think the potential for Putin to invade Estonia at the moment would be particularly low, given his commitment and losses in Ukraine. If however, he is allowed to regroup over say 2-3 years after been given what he wants in Ukraine, Estonia will be a prime target (aside from Moldova) and probably the easiest to take, given its population makeup and small size. Hopefully he will no longer be in power then, much like Trump.
Trump’s intention to stop Ukraine war is not laudable. It is fraught with personal ill desire of a Noble Prize award.
He was the one who withheld aid to Ukraine which was already appropriated by Congress. He was the one who pressured Congress to delay military and humanitarian aids to Ukraine by six months while he was out of Presidential office. He does not care if people live or die. This six months delay costed hundreds of thousands Ukraine deaths and wounded. Costed Ukraine the winning of counter attack in the Summer of 2023.
There is only one way the war in Ukraine could end, that is a total defeat of Russia.
Ukraine would be better off without the US. At least they will have a clearer picture of how to defend itself, not having to deal with their missiles suddenly would not fly, planes would not operate and not to know whereabouts their enemy.
Ukraine, like Viet Nam, unfortunately situated next to evil giants. Until they have that ultimate weapons, nuclear bombs, their fates are uncertain.
A wonderful piece, Diane, with a brand new "mission statement" for NATO with which I fully concur. While we are rewriting the mission statement, we must ensure that the ridiculous "unanimous" vote provision is replaced with one that works. Just one Orban or Fico can throw a monkey wrench into NATO operations. I know of no corporation that would entertain such an unworldly requirement. It is suicidal and effectively gives the enemy a veto over every serious NATO decision. In addition, the new, "greatly improved" NATO should require some specific minimal level of contribution from each member in meeting its "all for one" commitment. There is nothing to prevent any member from sending an ambulance and two nurses as a show of "solidarity", in support of a prospective invasion by Russia.
Estonia - as I am sure you know - is particularly vulnerable because more than 21% of its population is of Russian heritage and Russia's FSB is more than capable of creating "disturbances" that would give the Kremlin reason to go in to "protect "Russian speakers.
Thank you for a timely and (as usual) very astute blog.
In a hurry seems to be the mandate du jour for us in a cascading number of concerns. As in, getting rid of or defanging our Stupid Manipulative Moron of a chief executive. (He is NOT MY president. and if he showed up at my front door with a cheeseburger on offer I'd spit in his eye.) On any number of these concerns we must act fast--waiting for the midterms would cost us dearly. Diane, your grasp of the dangers in Europe is acute, and there are so many other dangers. So we've mapped the terrain. Any tactical/strategic suggestions?
I would take the cheeseburger, then spit in his eye, but maybe that’s just me.
Norway made a very telling statement this past week. They said their secret stash amounted to $1.7 Trillion and it was disclosed in the context of providing military support to keep the Russians from winning. If Trump really wants to balance the budget, there are lots of army surplus tanks and jets he can sell off at a great price ($1mm/Abrams - $10mm/F16) So just $4B would buy a fleet of 200 jets and 2000 tanks. Now all we need is for someone to make the deal...in a nice pin stripe suit with a club tie thats a bit on the long side.
And how will we pry his fat little hands away from those offshore accounts into which Putin is gifting him half the Russian GDP?
right on ...trump thinks he can control putin....naive in the extreme ....putin is a psychopath who only understands one thing ....force ..
For a lasting and just peace in Europe, Putin must be defeated on the battlefield. Only when Putin has been given a bloody nose will he abandon his genocidal aims in Ukraine and accept the necessary preconditions for peace: return of prisoners and abducted children, return of stolen lands, war reparations for Ukraine, and surrender and prosecution of Russian war criminals. Anything less is appeasement and will cost Europe much more in the long run.
Here’s the difficult truth: enduring peace on the continent cannot be bought with treasure, spurious “deals,” or as-long-as-it-takes pledges of support. It must be earned—earned by those who are willing to defend democracy and the rule of law with their lives... and not just with the lives of Ukrainians.
How can Russia be defeated? Putin has shown us how. A coalition of the willing should deploy a joint military force, bearing no national insignias, into Ukraine to push Russians out. It should be made clear to everyone in advance that the purpose of this “special military operation” is to secure Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and that not a single Western soldier would set foot on Russian soil during and after the operation. Ukrainians have already done the heavy lifting, so Western forces will be facing the remnants of a battered and demoralized enemy.
If Putin can use such subterfuge, so should the West. If Putin can bring foreign fighters into the battle, why shouldn’t Ukraine?
Of course Putin will want to retaliate, but with multiple countries involved, who should he retaliate against? And if he threatens a nuclear response, he can be reminded that the UK and France are also nuclear powers, and that American and British nuclear submarines that patrol Russia’s coasts 24/7 could obliterate Moscow before any Russian missiles cleared their silos.
This kind of muscular response would:
• save Ukrainian democracy
• disabuse Putin and his successors of their expansionist fantasies
• secure a lasting peace in Europe
• uphold a world order based on the rule of law
• end Russian meddling in countries around the world, at least for a time
• encourage other despots to scale back their ambitions
• give the finger to a predatory America
• remove obstacles to Ukraine’s accession to NATO and the EU
• encourage Russian citizens to reconsider the kind of country they want to live in
• keep Ukraine’s mineral wealth in Ukrainian hands, to be used as they see fit, which is how it should be.
But right now Western leaders are not even considering this option. They are paralysed by Putin’s empty nuclear threats and hoping to concoct a cheaper, risk-free solution that has no hope of success when faced with a treacherous, murderous, myth-obsessed thug like Putin. Yes, Western leaders are willing to fight Putin to the last Ukrainian; but what’s needed is courage and boldness and vision. Because what’s at stake in Ukraine is not just the future of a nation crying for liberty; it is the future of our civilized world. If Putin is allowed to succeed in any way, the security of any and all nations will be thrown into doubt. Seeing diplomacy’s impotence against a determined aggressor, nations will scramble to acquire nuclear weapons for their own defence, and the possibility of national security and a peaceful world will become a sad, pathetic dream.
Friends of Ukraine, please forward copies of this posting to your friends and associates. Write to government officials, the government of Ukraine, media, international organizations etc. to promote the need for direct military involvement in Ukraine.
Jaroslav Zenchuk
Ottawa, Canada
The clarity of your message is outstanding. There is little to add other than one simple question - if your outline is so obvious and intelligible to anyone who cares about “our” civilization why have our “leaders” neglected their responsibility to defend it when it has been crystal clear for years now that evil has been on the march!!
Not long ago we used to have Western leaders who could persuade us that short term pain led to long term gain for all. Now the dim wits in the WH seem to be practicing short term gain for long term pain. The US gets the temporary gains and the other guys get the irreversible pain. Beyond sad.
Thanks for the snapshots as the comedy of errors unfolds.
Despite the bad news - I remain slightly optimistic. Russia is weak right now despite Putin's rattling he's famous for. He's a better lier than Trump & keeps everyone on edge & guessing which works in his favor. Also, evidence of poor leadership among Russian military personnel who take orders from Putin with fear - not well trained in military management as well. Without USA is only a small set back . There are too many who know the result of a Russian war so the incentive to get all hands on deck is imperative. I believe they are in the 'fast' track right now.
Suggest Trump licks Putin and so do his craven team. As you argue Diane it is up to Europe to get its act together and NATO as US has turned its back on Europe.
They have nukes and biological weapons, remember.
Would they dare use them - Putin has used that threat from the beginning - would he start that kind of war? Hmmm. -
Excellent thank you
He’s in the same delusional mode as the “perfect phone call” that got him impeached his first term in office—his shake down of Zelensky and his threats to withhold US military aid unless Ukraine “ANNOUNCE” an investigation of Biden’s son.
Now he wants an ANNOUNCEMENT of a peace agreement, an unenforceable ceasefire signed—regardless of its effect. Trump cares NOTHING about the reality of war-and-peace. He’s a delusional nihilist who seeks only to play the tough guy—a recipe for tragedy.
Brilliant and horrifying!
Why is it that only Trump and his sycophants believe Putin will entertain the possibility of a 30 day ceasefire with Ukraine? No one else does.
Why is it that Trump is believed, when he says that he only wants to stop the fighting and the “millions of deaths” taking place? He just wants the Nobel Peace Prize, he doesn’t care how many people die or what land is subjugated. He just uses threats to get his way, not negotiations. He flip-flops like a fish out of water, which is what he is.
Neither Trump, Vance or Musk (or it appears, the Republican Party) have any belief in the Rule of Law or the principles that have guided democratic nations for the past 100 years. The only principle they have is to themselves and money. The only alter they pray at is the alter of money. Alliances are just something that weaker countries want. The US is not and does not, according to Trump.
Russia is the aggressor here, Ukraine is just trying to defend itself. Why is Trump treating them as equally at fault or even blaming Ukraine for starting the war? Trump’s withdrawal from NATO, whilst at the same time setting conditions for Ukraines surrender smacks of the perception of being an overlord or a Russian asset.
I think everyone agree’s that it is about time for Europe to start looking after itself, but doing it overnight (or threatening too) and in the middle of a war is not the way to do it. Europe does not need US boots on the ground, but it does need weapon, logistical and air support until Europe can get its act together. It might take 10 years for Europe to eliminate its reliance on the US support, but it will happen and then the US may regret what it had wished for. The failure to confiscate the $300 million in frozen Russian assets is also a problem and brings into doubt Europe’s commitment to oppose Russian transgressions.
The idea of an election being held in Ukraine is just ridiculous for all the reasons you named, its in the middle of an existential war and when was the last time Russia held a fair & free election?
I think the potential for Putin to invade Estonia at the moment would be particularly low, given his commitment and losses in Ukraine. If however, he is allowed to regroup over say 2-3 years after been given what he wants in Ukraine, Estonia will be a prime target (aside from Moldova) and probably the easiest to take, given its population makeup and small size. Hopefully he will no longer be in power then, much like Trump.
Trump’s intention to stop Ukraine war is not laudable. It is fraught with personal ill desire of a Noble Prize award.
He was the one who withheld aid to Ukraine which was already appropriated by Congress. He was the one who pressured Congress to delay military and humanitarian aids to Ukraine by six months while he was out of Presidential office. He does not care if people live or die. This six months delay costed hundreds of thousands Ukraine deaths and wounded. Costed Ukraine the winning of counter attack in the Summer of 2023.
There is only one way the war in Ukraine could end, that is a total defeat of Russia.
Ukraine would be better off without the US. At least they will have a clearer picture of how to defend itself, not having to deal with their missiles suddenly would not fly, planes would not operate and not to know whereabouts their enemy.
Ukraine, like Viet Nam, unfortunately situated next to evil giants. Until they have that ultimate weapons, nuclear bombs, their fates are uncertain.
But they always must fight.
I am an avid follower of yours. Recently you shared a Video with the Times.
In the video you jokingly mentioned that you were in Toronto in the 51st State. I find this comment insulting and offensive. It will NEVER happen.
Apart from this I love your articles and learn from them.
Diane is Canadian and a proud one at that - I wouldn’t read too much into a tongue in cheek comment.