Maybe NATO needs to wake up to the reality that the US is now politically dysfunctional, and the GOP is not going to green light enough support to Ukraine to hold its defense.
To avoid a catastrophic defeat for Ukraine and the West/EU/NATO, we need to think quickly and outside the box. Necessities now should be:
- Extend a NATO missile defense to Ukraine, as currently being offered to Israel by the West. This can be provided externally to Ukraine from systems operated by NATO border states. NATO is not becoming party to a direct conflict with Russia as neither the US., UK. or Jordan have by shooting down Iranian missiles heading for Israel. NATO just needs to find its balls before Putin cuts them off.
- Allocate the full $330 billion in immobilized Russian assets to Ukraine’s defense. If the West is unable to provide adequate funds for Ukraine’s defense let Putin provide the funds to allow Ukraine to buy its own arms/munitions. If Zelensky had $330 billion to buy arms, even Trump and the GOP could not say no.
- Adopt a zero tolerance on Russia approach to sanctions. Massively ramp up secondary sanctions on third country sanctions busters. Change the default setting on sanctions to zero trade with Russia being permitted except where special licenses are approved - we could set the implementation date sufficiently far in the future (3-5 years hence) to limit the near-term disruption to global markets. But the signaling impact to global markets would be immense - get out of Russia.
And if the West is not willing to do these, then it should start to think through what a Russian victory in Ukraine means - and begin to plan for that. It means a huge economic hit to Europe in defense spending (hundreds of billions more a year), tens of millions of Ukrainian migrants moving West, socio-economic, political and security crisis (wars) in Europe and the collapse of the Euro.
Reprinted from the author’s @tashecon blog! See the original here.
The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.
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Comments (7)
NATO is gutless! If it happens that Russia wins the war, NATO 's standing in the eyes of the world will be mud.
@putinRUMP for Jail 2024!
You should hold on to that "bag of dicks" troll jack for your next MRGA party. Putinrump needs them to do his best thinking. It's seems MRGA cult admires that trait.
Putinrump's already been fined $88 Million for sexual abuse. He's been linked to hush money payouts 3 times to effectively hide past flings (porn stars Stormy Daniels & Karen McDougal, plus payoff to NY Doorman who apparently had info about an out of wedlock child). Apparently in total 25 woman have accused him of sexual abuse. One of the witnesses at Ghislane Maxwell's child sex grooming trial, noted being introduced to buddies Jeffrey Epstein and putinrump at his Mar-a-lago resort. The witness was 14 at the time she was introduced. She subsequently was in putinrumps Miss Teen USA beauty pageant. Epstein was "A great guy" according to his former wingman putinrump. However a few days into his incarceration his assigned guards both left their posts and he 'died' before he could spill the beans on his deviant network.
Remember this putinrump quote referencing his beauty pagent days: "You know I'm automatically attracted to beautiful—I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait. And when you're a star, they let you do it, you can do anything ... grab them by the pussy. You can do anything."
What a great role model for MRGA trolls.
The Great Donald J Trump will soon be returning to his rightful place at The White House. All your haters will be eating a bag of dicks. MAGA time Motherfuckers.
When will Americans stop being Europe's Cash Cow for Defense spending?
Why have Western Bloc NATO countries spent the last 2 decades not prioritizing their GDP Militsry obligation but now beg and whine for American support?
Add total travel ban for all Russians to Western countries, starting with high profile athlete apologists
NATO is not the right organization to protect Ukraine. Its decision making procedures are too cumbersome to do anything. The allies that protected Israel from the Iranian missile attack included The USA, the UK and France. With the USA unwilling to act in Ukraine, there need to be another "coalition of the willing" to provide Ukraine with defensive air cover. European nations like France, the UK, Poland, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden could join together and protect Ukraine from nightly bombing attacks. Protection is not escalation. Macron has already suggested French troops on the ground. Let him follow through with it. Boldness and courage is required.
@David, Agreed. Well stated.
@David, add to your list Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
A solid, enthusiastic, effective and willing response could readily be found outside NATO. This avoids the large mouth foot dragging opposition by Biden, Trump and Orban.
@Doug, There would be no restrictions on who could join, and I know your suggested additions have been some of Ukraine's strongest supporters. However I considered that, apart for Poland, I should not include any country that had a direct border with Russia or Belarus, as the have that additional danger That includes Finland as well. Perhaps Czechia, if they wish, but let them concentrate on getting the artillery shells to Ukraine as quickly as they can.
Nothing of these three suggestions are going to happened for different reasons and the author of this knows it.Someone has to tell the agly truth to Ukraine
@Chris, Stupid Russian troll. The ugly truth for Ukraine is that they will have a million stinking Russian corpses polluting their land. The ugly truth for Russia is that no one wants to be part of your sick fascist nation. You are obsolete by a thousand years. Its war of aggression is so badly thought through by incompetent people. Capturing Ukraine would be the quickest way to finish Russia. Russia would need a permanent deployment of 10 million soldiers to maintain fragile control of a people wanting revenge for Bucha. Meanwhile, China recovers Manchuria & your borders collapse. Look at your demographic: there is no one left but trolls. All you do is delay the inevitable. I know it’s an alien concept, but, work for a change instead of murdering your neighbours.
@JAQUES, NICE RESPONSE!!! GLORY TO UKRAINE .. GLORY TO UKRAINE ... GLORY TO UKRAINE !!!! FUCK YOU RUSSIAN SCUM !!!!!
@DBA, fucking pussy eat shit you scum.