Thank you for the lovely tribute to Ukraine and it's supporters. May this see an end to this horrific war in the near future. They deserve peace and all may those that have given their lives rest in peace.
Very well written and said. More people need to read and understand what Ukraine and Ukrainians have been through and how important it is for us living comfortable lives in the West. We cannot keep taking this for granted and we need to step up & provide in depth support to Ukraine while also planning & committing seriously to our own security in a more uncertain world. Thank you Mick.
What has happened in Ukraine is tragic. But the truth demands to be told that this was a war provoked by NATO and a proxy war against Russia. Russia's intervention was essential as ethnic Russians were being slaughtered in the civil war in the four eastern provinces.
On a trip to Poland in 2023 president Joe Biden stated publically the war was intended to force regime change in Moscow and destroy the Russian economy.
While Russia sought a negotiated settlement from the outset NATO continually escalated the hostilities. Only months into the war British PM Boris Johnson flew to Kiev and sabotaged a peace treaty Zelensky was willing to accept.
Rubbish. It is a war of national self-defence by Ukraine against a blatant act of imperialist aggression by Russia.
Provoked by NATO? Neither NATO nor Ukraine have ever committed aggression against Russia, nor shown the slightest intention to do so.
All sovereign states have a right to join alliances, including military alliances, to ensure their security. This right has been explicitly acknowledged on multiple occasions by the Russian government, and its precursor state the Soviet Union, most recently in the Russia-NATO Founding Act of 1997.
So, even if the Russians were upset about it, in no way did it constitute a legitimate casus belli justifying the Putin regime’s monstrous aggression.
The expansion of NATO that followed the end of the Cold War was overwhelmingly driven by the newly freed states of the old Soviet sphere.
Indeed, according to Mary Sarotte, the author of the definitive history of the NATO expansion, it was these states that were pounding on the door to be admitted, issuing “desperate entreaties”.
And why would they be doing that? Because even in the seemingly benign 1990s they, especially those that had experienced long periods under the Russian heel, were not as confident as most Western commentators that Russia had abandoned its imperial aspirations. They based that on a range of factors: the extraordinarily brutal Russian conduct and the first and second Chechen wars, the disturbingly strong performance of ultra-nationalist elements in Russia’s 1993 legislative elections.
Then there was Russia’s insertion of troops into the Transnistria region of Moldova in 1992, which remain there to the present day with increasingly belligerent Russian talk of annexation despite Moldova in 1994 inserting a provision in its constitution prohibiting that nation from joining any military alliance.
So much for the view that Ukraine merely had to renounce NATO membership to avoid Russian aggression. More recently, unsurprisingly, Moldova has started to debate whether it is time for a rethink about seeking NATO membership.
In Ukraine’s case, up until December 2014 Ukraine had a constitutional provision prohibiting it from joining alliances or allowing the stationing of foreign troops on its territory.
So, what prompted the Ukrainian Rada (parliament) to overwhelmingly decide to remove this provision? That would be Russia’s earlier military aggression against the country in 2014, starting with irregular forces, followed by invasion by regular formations of the Russian army in August of that year.
There is nothing quite like being invaded by a powerful neighbouring state to prompt a country to reconsider its security arrangements!
It would be fair to say, therefore, that in recent times the chief incentivizer of NATO expansion has been one Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. Just ask the Finns and the Swedes.
BTW with regard to your reference to the earlier conflict in East Ukraine, that was fomented and deliberately escalated to violent conflict by the Russians, as acknowledged by the former FSB officer and “defence minister” of the phony Donetsk people’s republic Alexander Girkin, who has said publicly “I’m the one who pulled the trigger of war … our squad set the flywheel of war in motion.”
The war was not prompted by fear of NATO, but by Putin’s long-standing desire to reconstitute Russia as a great imperial power. Putin has been saying this for three decades, starting well before he rose to his current position.
Russian propagandists close to Putin nowadays state this openly. For example, Margarita Simonyan, the head of RIA-Novosti “news agency”, the regime’s main international propaganda instrument, said this on state TV, when questioned about whether Russia’s goals in Ukraine had changed since the war started:
“To me this is not an advancement, but a more sincere and more public acknowledgement that this was always the goal. I’m sure you have no doubt that even 20 years ago Putin wanted to gather the Russian world, to defend Russians and to have this opportunity. It was a matter of when we had the ability to do it.”
“Gathering the Russian lands”. That is the regime’s term for Putin’s imperial project.
what rubbish. You selectively take those bits of evidence that conveniently supports your theory. Even in those 'russian speaking' provinces you refer to, support for the Russian state barely ever rises above 20% in any reputable polls undertaken. and the insidious destabilisation and annexation of Crimea by Russian regime was totally illegal and immoral to begin with.
Ha.. yes of course. a totally free and fair vote. And Nalvelny dies of natural causes, too, didnt he.
Robert if you're so proud of the glorious noble Russian empire, I'm sure you'll be the first to emigrate over to Donesyk etc once the Trump-supported Moscow puppet govt is installed. Do have a wonderful time.
If NATO provoked the war, sorry SMO with Russia, why is it they have not marched into Ukraine or Russia already? Perhaps it was because they were not prepared to go to war, but that can't be right, as it would imply that they had no intention of invading Russia, duh!
Ukraine is a sovereign country, if it wants to join NATO that's its decision. Russia has no right to interfere. Perhaps you should be asking why all the former Warsaw Pact countries wanted to join NATO ASAP, follower by the Baltic states. What is so different about Ukraine wanting to join NATO? Maybe Belarus is next?
Thank you so much for letting us read your insightful writings written in a measured and respectful way. You expose the truth as well as teach how to convey it. Europe must unite now more than ever before.
I applaud your support for Ukraine. However, the term "we in the west" raises some questions. Trump2 shows how much the international rules-based order is fractured, the limitations of Enlightenment Liberalism, and free rider behaviour of Germany and the rest of the EU. US debt levels cannot continue to grow indefinitely. US taxpayers and ordinary citizens have not been convinced. The UN is flawed and weakened by ideological differences. I'm no longer so certain as to what "the West" means. And I am concerned about Australia's future in these uncertain times.
Unlike the President of Afghanistan, Zelensky asked for ammunition, not a ride when his country was invaded by a much better equipped and larger foe and he showed the physical and moral courage national leaders should look for in the 21st century. If Biden had his way, Zelensky would have been spirited out of the country and into exile, much like Ashraf Ghani. Who remembers or cares about him? I’m sure the US would have preferred Zelensky leave Ukraine, then they wouldn’t be in the dilemma they’re in now.
Ukraine deserves our full and unbridled support, very few countries could have done what they have done, especially given the limited support they have received. Support from Europe has been there, but has been too soft. Europe needs to harden up. Form a coalition of the willing such as I stated in “How Ukraine Has Changed the Character of War”. NATO with the US is dead for now, given the stance taken by Trump and his minions.
Its not my decision - thankfully, but Ukraine should not accept Trump’s ultimatum, this is nothing but a traitorous rejection of Ukraines rights to self determination. No guarantee of security, 50% US ownership of or $500 billion worth of everything and Trump has called Zelensky a “dictator without elections”.Where is the justice in that? Even more reason for Europe to give Ukraine its full support. As usual, there are many rumours doing the rounds at the moment, and given Trump’s predilection for chaos, this is not going to change in a hurry.
Australia must reject Trump’s position and must reaffirms its position with like minded countries, with Ukraine as an example of what is required of Australians and its leaders.
Thank you so much for letting us read your insightful writings written in a measured and respectful way. You expose the truth as well as teach how to convey it. Europe must unite now more than ever before.
Thank you for the lovely tribute to Ukraine and it's supporters. May this see an end to this horrific war in the near future. They deserve peace and all may those that have given their lives rest in peace.
Well said.
Very well written and said. More people need to read and understand what Ukraine and Ukrainians have been through and how important it is for us living comfortable lives in the West. We cannot keep taking this for granted and we need to step up & provide in depth support to Ukraine while also planning & committing seriously to our own security in a more uncertain world. Thank you Mick.
Brilliant price - well acknowledged. Thanks for everything you do to highlight what has been happening over there Mike
What has happened in Ukraine is tragic. But the truth demands to be told that this was a war provoked by NATO and a proxy war against Russia. Russia's intervention was essential as ethnic Russians were being slaughtered in the civil war in the four eastern provinces.
On a trip to Poland in 2023 president Joe Biden stated publically the war was intended to force regime change in Moscow and destroy the Russian economy.
While Russia sought a negotiated settlement from the outset NATO continually escalated the hostilities. Only months into the war British PM Boris Johnson flew to Kiev and sabotaged a peace treaty Zelensky was willing to accept.
The truth of the war is told here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RNE3X41IvM&t=3459s
Stop getting brainwashed with russian propaganda and believing those who are spreading it!
Ukraine needs NATO to defend itself against russia.
There was no “slaughtering” of civilians in Donbas, russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, russia started a war there to destroy all of Ukraine.
I politely suggest you brush up on your history.
I suggest you to stop supporting the genocide of my nation
Absolutely no slaughter
https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/2/a/511327.pdf
https://euvsdisinfo.eu/report/ukraine-intends-to-commit-genocide-in-the-donbas/
https://united24media.com/anti-fake/what-genocide-of-the-donbas-people-looked-like-over-8-years-before-the-full-scale-invasion-1020
https://detector.media/monitorynh-internetu/article/206833/2023-01-10-revenge-for-the-children-of-the-donbas-how-russia-justifies-deportation-and-other-war-crimes-in-ukraine/
Rubbish. It is a war of national self-defence by Ukraine against a blatant act of imperialist aggression by Russia.
Provoked by NATO? Neither NATO nor Ukraine have ever committed aggression against Russia, nor shown the slightest intention to do so.
All sovereign states have a right to join alliances, including military alliances, to ensure their security. This right has been explicitly acknowledged on multiple occasions by the Russian government, and its precursor state the Soviet Union, most recently in the Russia-NATO Founding Act of 1997.
So, even if the Russians were upset about it, in no way did it constitute a legitimate casus belli justifying the Putin regime’s monstrous aggression.
The expansion of NATO that followed the end of the Cold War was overwhelmingly driven by the newly freed states of the old Soviet sphere.
Indeed, according to Mary Sarotte, the author of the definitive history of the NATO expansion, it was these states that were pounding on the door to be admitted, issuing “desperate entreaties”.
And why would they be doing that? Because even in the seemingly benign 1990s they, especially those that had experienced long periods under the Russian heel, were not as confident as most Western commentators that Russia had abandoned its imperial aspirations. They based that on a range of factors: the extraordinarily brutal Russian conduct and the first and second Chechen wars, the disturbingly strong performance of ultra-nationalist elements in Russia’s 1993 legislative elections.
Then there was Russia’s insertion of troops into the Transnistria region of Moldova in 1992, which remain there to the present day with increasingly belligerent Russian talk of annexation despite Moldova in 1994 inserting a provision in its constitution prohibiting that nation from joining any military alliance.
So much for the view that Ukraine merely had to renounce NATO membership to avoid Russian aggression. More recently, unsurprisingly, Moldova has started to debate whether it is time for a rethink about seeking NATO membership.
In Ukraine’s case, up until December 2014 Ukraine had a constitutional provision prohibiting it from joining alliances or allowing the stationing of foreign troops on its territory.
So, what prompted the Ukrainian Rada (parliament) to overwhelmingly decide to remove this provision? That would be Russia’s earlier military aggression against the country in 2014, starting with irregular forces, followed by invasion by regular formations of the Russian army in August of that year.
There is nothing quite like being invaded by a powerful neighbouring state to prompt a country to reconsider its security arrangements!
It would be fair to say, therefore, that in recent times the chief incentivizer of NATO expansion has been one Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. Just ask the Finns and the Swedes.
BTW with regard to your reference to the earlier conflict in East Ukraine, that was fomented and deliberately escalated to violent conflict by the Russians, as acknowledged by the former FSB officer and “defence minister” of the phony Donetsk people’s republic Alexander Girkin, who has said publicly “I’m the one who pulled the trigger of war … our squad set the flywheel of war in motion.”
The war was not prompted by fear of NATO, but by Putin’s long-standing desire to reconstitute Russia as a great imperial power. Putin has been saying this for three decades, starting well before he rose to his current position.
Russian propagandists close to Putin nowadays state this openly. For example, Margarita Simonyan, the head of RIA-Novosti “news agency”, the regime’s main international propaganda instrument, said this on state TV, when questioned about whether Russia’s goals in Ukraine had changed since the war started:
“To me this is not an advancement, but a more sincere and more public acknowledgement that this was always the goal. I’m sure you have no doubt that even 20 years ago Putin wanted to gather the Russian world, to defend Russians and to have this opportunity. It was a matter of when we had the ability to do it.”
“Gathering the Russian lands”. That is the regime’s term for Putin’s imperial project.
I have written extensively about these issues in my Substack in a detailed response to Professor John J. Mearsheimer, who has become the main academic purveyor of this BS. https://polciv.substack.com/p/copy-professor-john-mearsheimer-theorist
what rubbish. You selectively take those bits of evidence that conveniently supports your theory. Even in those 'russian speaking' provinces you refer to, support for the Russian state barely ever rises above 20% in any reputable polls undertaken. and the insidious destabilisation and annexation of Crimea by Russian regime was totally illegal and immoral to begin with.
The four Eastern provinces have voted by referendum to remain part of Russia.
Lies!
Ha.. yes of course. a totally free and fair vote. And Nalvelny dies of natural causes, too, didnt he.
Robert if you're so proud of the glorious noble Russian empire, I'm sure you'll be the first to emigrate over to Donesyk etc once the Trump-supported Moscow puppet govt is installed. Do have a wonderful time.
If NATO provoked the war, sorry SMO with Russia, why is it they have not marched into Ukraine or Russia already? Perhaps it was because they were not prepared to go to war, but that can't be right, as it would imply that they had no intention of invading Russia, duh!
Ukraine is a sovereign country, if it wants to join NATO that's its decision. Russia has no right to interfere. Perhaps you should be asking why all the former Warsaw Pact countries wanted to join NATO ASAP, follower by the Baltic states. What is so different about Ukraine wanting to join NATO? Maybe Belarus is next?
Wow. Can you get ever closer to Kremlin talking points? Pathatic.
Ethnic Russians were NOT being slaughtered! Russian propaganda .
Thank you so much for letting us read your insightful writings written in a measured and respectful way. You expose the truth as well as teach how to convey it. Europe must unite now more than ever before.
I applaud your support for Ukraine. However, the term "we in the west" raises some questions. Trump2 shows how much the international rules-based order is fractured, the limitations of Enlightenment Liberalism, and free rider behaviour of Germany and the rest of the EU. US debt levels cannot continue to grow indefinitely. US taxpayers and ordinary citizens have not been convinced. The UN is flawed and weakened by ideological differences. I'm no longer so certain as to what "the West" means. And I am concerned about Australia's future in these uncertain times.
Unlike the President of Afghanistan, Zelensky asked for ammunition, not a ride when his country was invaded by a much better equipped and larger foe and he showed the physical and moral courage national leaders should look for in the 21st century. If Biden had his way, Zelensky would have been spirited out of the country and into exile, much like Ashraf Ghani. Who remembers or cares about him? I’m sure the US would have preferred Zelensky leave Ukraine, then they wouldn’t be in the dilemma they’re in now.
Ukraine deserves our full and unbridled support, very few countries could have done what they have done, especially given the limited support they have received. Support from Europe has been there, but has been too soft. Europe needs to harden up. Form a coalition of the willing such as I stated in “How Ukraine Has Changed the Character of War”. NATO with the US is dead for now, given the stance taken by Trump and his minions.
Its not my decision - thankfully, but Ukraine should not accept Trump’s ultimatum, this is nothing but a traitorous rejection of Ukraines rights to self determination. No guarantee of security, 50% US ownership of or $500 billion worth of everything and Trump has called Zelensky a “dictator without elections”.Where is the justice in that? Even more reason for Europe to give Ukraine its full support. As usual, there are many rumours doing the rounds at the moment, and given Trump’s predilection for chaos, this is not going to change in a hurry.
Australia must reject Trump’s position and must reaffirms its position with like minded countries, with Ukraine as an example of what is required of Australians and its leaders.
Thank you so much for letting us read your insightful writings written in a measured and respectful way. You expose the truth as well as teach how to convey it. Europe must unite now more than ever before.