Russia and Ukraine Are At A Standstill
And the West seems content with it…
In late September 2022, news outlets began reporting that Russia had finalized “accession treaties” with four Ukrainian oblasts. The treaties were the result of referendums — or votes — that determined whether or not the Ukrainians of these regions wanted to be absorbed into the Russian Federation.
The problem? The referendums are entirely illegitimate. President Joe Biden even touted them as a “sham” and that the US would never recognize Russian attempts at annexing territory that belongs to Ukraine.
The UN Secretary-General stated as well that the decision has “no legal value.”
While the unified front is a good sign — because the West have common goals again, for once — the statements are of no surprise. Everyone knows they are illegitimate, but more importantly, no one cares.
If the West is going to proudly pat itself on the shoulder and congratulate themselves for sticking it to Putin, they are arrogantly mistaken. Russia has — and never had — any care for the norms, opinions, or practices of the West.
It is apparent that NATO will not join the conflict as it stands so Russia’s biggest threat remains Ukraine itself. What are they going to do, start a war? Oh, wait…
In fact, it is the unified stance against the referendum in combination with President Zelenskyy’s decree that may have worsened the situation.
President Zelenskyy signed a decree that officialized some statements he had verbalized prior. Specifically, that Ukraine is willing to negotiate with Russia, but not a Russia ruled by Vladimir Putin.
My question is this: President Zelenskyy, how can you represent the best interests of Ukraine and not be willing to diplomatically end the war?
My follow-up, as an American: How can we sit idly by, gift billions of dollars, send our weapons systems to Ukraine, and say — while supporting Zelenskyy without any question or scrutiny — that we want this war to end?
How can we, in good conscience, support a man who is diplomatically unable to look out for the interests of his people? Does Zelenskyy really think that stating “I will not talk to Putin, that honorless liar” will change Russia’s policy at all? Russia — the country with the same foreign policy goals since the Tsars.
As it stands, this decision by Zelenskyy is a mistake.
I simply believe it is absurd, that while the US is having an economic disaster (as well as a natural disaster in Hurricane Ian), we are supporting a Ukraine that is as problematic as it was in the 2010s. Throwing the American taxpayer's money at the issue has expired as a viable option.
And there you have it; a quick update on some of the bigger events surrounding this conflict. And, as usual, the end is nowhere in sight!
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