The more Putin escalates his attacks on Europe, the more Europe should support Ukraine
Moscow’s imperialist strongman believes decadent European democracies can be cowed. Our job is to prove him wrong
TL;DR
- Putin is escalating his war in Ukraine and a shadow war against Europe to break support for Ukraine and achieve subjugation.
- A new book, 'Warum Russland nicht aufhören wird,' links Putin's policy to historical Russian expansionism and imperial ideology.
- Russia's expansion has historically been facilitated by great powers and arrested by equal, opposing powers.
- Since Donald Trump's return, the US is less of an opposing power, placing the burden on Europe.
- Europe, including the UK, has provided more aid to Ukraine than the US, with Germany being a major individual country donor.
- Germany has donated significant air defense systems, including Patriot batteries, to Ukraine.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz has shown political will by visiting Ukraine with defense industry leaders.
- Historically, Germany has facilitated and threatened Russian expansion; now it is genuinely supporting Ukraine's sovereignty.
- Putin's hybrid war targets Germany, attempting to undermine its commitment to Ukraine.
- Challenges to sustained European support include internal political shifts in Germany (AfD), France (National Rally), Poland, and Italy, as well as reluctance to use frozen Russian assets.