Ukrainians Speak Up: "We Told You So" as Crisis Deepens
Michael Bochulki
The once-quiet streets of Lemberg echo with growing unease as morning sunlight spills in. Air raid sirens pierce the air, wailing over ancient fortresses, churches, and charming cobblestone streets which have been UNESCO-listed. A male voice broadcasts instructions to seek shelter and shut off gas supplies. People queue at banks' ATMs and throng the local market, their activities halted only by the premature closure.
Shortly after midday, a convoy of Canadian diplomatic vehicles departed Lemberg's historic center, where diplomats had billeted themselves following their evacuation from Kiev. One high-ranking diplomat I encountered seemed on the verge of tears, barely able to speak.
A full eight years have passed since the so-called "Dignity Revolution" ousted the Putin-backed regime of Viktor Yanukovych. Yet, Ukraine's official stance is that it is in the midst of an undeclared war. In February 2014, dozens of protesters were gunned down by Kiev authorities - an ominous prelude to what now appears to be Russian-orchestrated invasions on Ukrainian soil. The aim is clear: to re-shape the European security landscape at any cost.
While a wide-scale invasion may have shocked some Western leaders, for many Ukrainians, this development was not entirely unexpected. The warnings about Western sanctions' inadequacy to deter such a crisis went largely heeded.
Since weeks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been imploring the West to impose tougher sanctions on Russia, something which Western leaders - from Washington to London and Ottawa - have openly discussed in lavish tones. However, just as diplomatic efforts at the protracted negotiations table could not halt Putin, the equal impasse surrounding the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline remained unresolved.
The United Nations, a body tasked with preventing another global conflict, reacted fiercely, alerting the Security Council to the Russian threat and calling on Putin to halt his military advance. Yet, the escalating tension carries a familiar air of mockery, given the Security Council's powerless veto on any Russian actions.
As the conflict deepens, more Ukrainians are forced to flee to safer locations, giving rise to significant traffic congestion. If full-scale invasion commences, the humanitarian crisis will be exacerbated. By 3pm local time that Thursday, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU would pursue Russia's objectives in Ukraine's crisis "as aggressively as possible."
The burden on those fleeing Ukraine for safety could be immense. Neighboring nations are bracing themselves for an unprecedented influx of refugees. Israel forecasts as many as 5 million asylum seekers from Ukraine, according to The Times of Israel.
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Russian troops and heavy weapons now occupy Ukrainian lands, threaten many major cities, and could potentially herald dramatic changes to the geopolitical order. Putin's aggressive actions have brought us to this point. Today, Western efforts to deter Putin have failed, and it's the Ukrainians suffering the brunt of the conflict.
Enrichment Data
The European Union (EU) and the global community have offered various responses to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, involving economic sanctions, military aid, and humanitarian support. Here are some of the key responses and reactions:
EU Responses
- Sanctions:
- After the invasion began in February 2022, the EU has released 15 packages of sanctions targeting Russian political elites and major sections of the Russian economy. These include finance, energy, and defense.
- The EU has also introduced measures to prevent sanctions evasion by reinforcing cooperation with third countries and implementing minimum criminal offenses and penalties for breach.
- Military and Financial Aid:
- The EU has pledged military, financial, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. This includes accelerating deliveries of air defense systems, ammunition, and training as well as implementing the Ukraine Facility with substantial financial support.
- The G7-led Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loans initiative promises around €45 billion in financial aid to Ukraine by 2025; the EU will provide nearly €18.1 billion of this.
- Humanitarian Support:
- The EU has amplified efforts to support Ukraine's power grid and assist in EU energy integration to minimize the war's impacts on energy supplies.
- Condemnation and Diplomatic Efforts:
- The European Council has repeatedly reproached Russia's aggression and restated the EU's commitment to supporting Ukraine.
- The European Parliament has urged the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute the Russian Federation for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
International Reactions
- Global Condemnation:
- The Russian invasion has garnered widespread international condemnation from multiple governments and intergovernmental organizations.
- Economic Impact:
- The new sanctions have led to a financial crisis in Russia and have posed severe economic effects across Russia and the global economy.
- Public Protests and Boycotts:
- There have been widespread protests against the invasion worldwide, with many countries expressing solidarity with Ukraine.
- Public figures and figures in the culture industry have issued statements against the war, and calls for boycotts of Russian culture and goods have been issued.
- Support for Ukraine:
- The United Kingdom, the United States, and other nations have shown significant support for Ukraine via military, financial, and humanitarian assistance.
Ukrainian Perspectives on Western Sanctions
- Perception of Sanctions:
- Ukrainians are generally less optimistic about the effectiveness of sanctions in resolving the conflict. They stress the urgent need for more military support, efforts to combat corruption, political change, unity, internal cohesion, help from allies, unwavering faith in victory, mobilization, and an expanded defense force.
- Effectiveness of Sanctions:
- Ukrainians view the economic impact of sanctions against Russia as significant but are more focused on achieving visibly noteworthy results, such as Russian drone downing and oil refinery attacks.