S-N Editorial

The world witnessed the largest act of military aggression on European soil since WWII in February when Russian troops invaded Ukraine. After months of escalating chest pounding, Russian President Vladimir Putin called everyone’s bluff.

What followed was to be expected: Destruction, death and uncertainty. Left to basically fight one of the world’s strongest armies on its own, it seems like it’s only a matter of time before Ukraine crumbles to Russian forces. They won’t go down without a fight, though, and the Ukrainian peoples’ will to protect and uphold their sovereignty has been admirable. They’ve decided that opposing the tyrannical overtures from Putin is worth dying for.

The rest of the world has responded with words of condemnation and sanctions. At the very least, Russia’s economy will be crippled because of Putin’s move. The effects of the economic smack down have the potential to cause civil unrest within Russia, but that’s a long game at best. It’s worth noting that the propaganda machine inside Russia is humming at Soviet-era levels right now. Most Russians believe that invading Ukraine was justified and that the United States and other Western nations are the bad guys, so the tide of public opinion inside Russia is overwhelmingly on Putin’s side. He can do what he wants no matter how insane the rest of the world thinks he is, threats of nuclear annihilation and all.

How long will the rest of the democratic world sit by and watch as Putin overtakes a nation everyone but Russia deems sovereign? You can ban Russian vodka and other goods all you want, but grandiose gestures of solidarity at the liquor store aren’t going to change the mind of a totalitarian lunatic. If they can hold out long enough, the Ukrainians may have a chance. Untold suffering will result in the meantime, though, and that must not be ignored. The only things that will save Ukraine are bullets, bombs and bodies.

This very much seems like a crossroads for the democratic coalition that supports Ukrainian sovereignty. When and if Ukraine falls, where will Putin look next? Many people fear he’s trying to recreate the former Soviet bloc to cement his legacy as he reaches the Golden Years of his presidency. Those concerns seem warranted, as you can’t trust Putin as far as you can throw him. Russia didn’t invade because it had to; it invaded because it wanted to. That’s even scarier.

While the rest of the world rolls out sanction after sanction, the Ukrainian people will continue to fight for their lives. A humanitarian crisis has resulted as hundreds of thousands flee their home country. While the appetite for war against Russia may be weak among Western powers, the United States and its allies must continue to support the Ukrainian people by all means possible through humanitarian efforts and military aid. If we say we stand for freedom and democracy, then we have to stand up for Ukraine.