OPINION: Staring Down the Aggressor – Vital Actions for Global Leaders

Ukraine is determined to beat down the vicious aggressor. Help from the US and other democracies is vital to that mission and must be nailed down at the upcoming G7 and NATO meetings.

Too many policymakers worldwide behave as if Russia’s danger were a remote issue. They dismiss its aggressive actions as not having an impact on their citizens’ lives, jobs, and their children’s future. They all too easily forget Moscow’s political interference, such as in the US elections and Brexit, which still curdle national and international politics. And they all too easily get used to the horrific violence, bombing, chemical warfare, refugee crisis and misery wrought by Russia’s actions in Syria, Sudan, Chechnya and now Ukraine.

Russia has a vehement hatred for democracy. Propelled by its propaganda machine, the Kremlin bullies and beats down democrats, smears their political and economic wellbeing, and denigrates the good governance of these nations.

 As Moscow threatens Ukraine’s sovereignty, it seeks to recreate “Russkiy Mir” (the “Russian World”) – a concept based on social totality. Its actions spell danger right across the globe, never mind that most of its 260 million people live in poverty without paved roads or running water.

 The danger posed by Russia is manifest through its disregard for international law, institutions and human values that are enshrined in the UN Human Rights Charter. That extends further to trade, supply chains and jobs.

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 Despite the warning signs, some 40 members of the United Nations (UN) failed to declare Russia a criminal state even though its needles war in Ukraine has now cost nearly half a million lives and immeasurable agony. And the present situation continues to escalate and risks exploding should Russia’s chaos-making be granted a victory in Ukraine.

 In short – Russia must be stopped. The need to win against the criminal is urgent, and the G7 summit on 19 to 21 May 2023 in Hiroshima, followed by the July NATO meeting in Vilnius, are not-to-be-missed opportunities to reaffirm a winning goal and finish the job.

 Looking ahead to these key events, below is a series of vital considerations for the US and other friends and allies of Ukraine:

1.     Commit to the clear policy position that victory of the rule of law and global order must trump the self-centered behaviors of Russia.

2.     Champion to domestic and global audiences the message that good must prevail over evil. Dispel mutterings that the aggressor could be victorious. This is Russia’s prime psychological war tool. Ukraine must win. Russia must lose. The world must return to normal. The idea of Ukraine losing this war would be catastrophic to civilization and would be equivalent to losing World War II to Hitler.

3.     Give Ukraine everything its war effort needs, including the right airpower and missiles for a successful retaliation. Russia has accelerated its campaign of air bombings and enlarged its presence in the Black Sea. Here, Ukraine is vulnerable. All its sacrifices, as well as military aid from friends and allies to date, risk being for nothing unless the job is seen through.

4.     Counter Russia’s war of words to strengthen resolve at home. Capitalize on the colossal support and admiration of the world’s citizens for Ukraine, even if some national leaders demonstrate a pro-Russian stance for their own reasons.

5.     Unite US and other democratic political parties on one key unifying principle: support for the universal values of freedom, democracy and the right to life. These must be defended and are the indispensable glue of our civilization.

By helping to ensure a strong victory for Ukraine, the US, with friends and allies, can reaffirm the international rule of law and global security. This will be supported by all countries of the world that have not yet fallen for Russia’s falsehoods. This needs to be done urgently to ensure that the current sense of not having done enough and in sufficient time does not turn into reality.

 Now is the time for a winning mindset affirming the world’s security, international law and all of humanity’s rights and freedoms. Russia must not intimidate democracies’ deliberations into supporting anything less, be it on the war front or at the negotiating table.

 Ukraine is determined to win. Help it.

 Oksana Bashuk Hepburn is a former executive with the Canadian government and president of her own consulting firm with a special interest in Ukraine and global politics.

 The views expressed are the author’s and not necessarily of Kyiv Post.