Ukraine solidarity narrative cynical without weapons & guarantees

Gabrielius Landsbergis warns western nations there will be no happy ending unless they choose to rewrite the script to help Ukraine achieve a full victory

Apr 5, 2024 - 09:48

Ukraine solidarity narrative cynical without weapons & guarantees

Nice stories don’t win wars. Without significant deliveries of weapons and real security guarantees the glorious narrative of unity and solidarity with Ukraine is wearing thin and rapidly approaching cynicism.

Comforting stories can help win elections. But if they are false they immobilize us, and prevent us from taking real action while Ukrainians continue to die for us

Ukrainians have performed miracles and repeatedly embarrassed the “experts.” We should be grateful to have such an ally, but instead of helping them win, we ask them to fight with one hand tied behind their back.

We are in great danger. Russia, very predictably, has been emboldened by appeasement.

The survival of the rules-based system is in doubt. New hotspots are igniting all over the world. This is not the future we want to live in, but it is the future that is being built.

The fact remains that anything other than total restoration of Ukraine’s sovereignty and security would invite Putin and the world’s tyrants to keep going, to keep crossing borders, to keep raping and murdering in order to achieve their aims.

There is little mystery about what can happen if we keep waiting for a miracle. Territories can be lost, countries can be occupied. There is no positive spin to this story, no happy ending, unless we choose to rewrite this script.

It’s tempting to hold back, leave it up to fate and pretend we can’t influence the outcome, but that’s no way to honor our historic responsibilities.

The only way is this: we choose to change course, choose to get serious, and choose to help Ukraine achieve a full victory.

The definitive narrative will be written by historians. They will discuss our choices. If we fail, they will be harsh. They will wonder why we believed in the fiction we told ourselves and chose to ignore the facts on the ground. They will call it a tragedy, not a victory.

Related:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!