Until Russia's leadership stops being paranoid and aggressive morons--with nukes--the West needs to keep Russia's western border as far east as possible.
Yes, a strong Ukraine is the key to blocking Europe's Russia problem:
Half a year after the launch of Russia’s invasion, it is evident that Ukraine is no longer a post-Soviet state. Instead, Ukraine has returned to its historic position within the family of European nations. This return was formalized in summer 2022 when the European Union granted Ukraine official EU candidate nation status. I only wish this success had not come at such a staggering price.
Ukraine’s further integration will benefit Europe as a whole. The events of the past six months have illustrated that Europe will become significantly more secure if it recognizes that Ukraine can serve as a shield in the east. Europe has a Russia problem and a strong Ukraine is the obvious solution.
Ukraine has already provided ample evidence that Russia will back down whenever it encounters serious resistance. On multiple occasions, Russian troops have responded to battlefield setbacks with retreats disguised as “goodwill gestures.” The lesson for advocates of appeasement could not be clearer: failure to confront Russia will lead to escalating aggression, whereas a firm response will force Russia to back down and withdraw.
Granted, that's the Ukrainian defense minister's view. He's understandably biased. And no way have 45,000 Russian troops died in the war so far. But he has a point in the big picture.
While Ukraine's bravery is key, blocking Russia clearly requires the financial, industrial, and technological might of the West to make that bravery more than a moral victory of defiantly losing to a larger enemy.
In the long run, Ukraine can't count on this level of support and sacrifice from the West to counteract Russia's size. Ukraine needs to defeat corruption to avoid just being a smaller and weaker version of corrupt Russia. Then it won't require nearly as much Western help to stop Russia. And if Ukraine is much stronger, joining NATO won't be the risk it seems right now to the West, which is having to really strain to support Ukraine.
Keep the Russians as far east as possible. They have no natural borders for their paranoia and ambitions. If the foundation of Putin's decision-making is cultural paranoia, we can't ever reassure him--or his likely replacement.
Chimpanzees with nukes, I say.
NOTE: War coverage continues here.
