Two long years have passed since the day Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. Two years is a long time, and we can hear a sense of fatigue among us. We hear questions about the relevance of continuing to support Ukraine.
We have our own problems: the cost of groceries, the wait in health care, the potholes. Should we take care of what appears to be someone else’s problem? We live with our own economic difficulties, are we really willing to send billions to a country that seems far away?
The temptation can be strong to wash our hands of it, thinking that this war is not ours.
That would be a major mistake. Because they are closer geographically, Europeans are today much more aware of the threat posed by Putin’s Russia.
- Listen to the Dutrizac – Dumont meeting via QUB :
Our soldiers in combat?
It is no coincidence that Emmanuel Macron sent such a strong message this week. He reiterated that “Russia must not win this war.” He even dared to open the door to sending ground troops to fight the Russian army.
Did he say it to dissuade Putin? Did he say it to wake up countries like Canada to the crucial nature of the conflict? Did he do it to prepare people’s minds in case it really had to come to that? Either way, he reminded the world of the catastrophe that a Russian victory would represent.
Let us first consider that as soon as Putin emerges from this war with annexed territories, he will be able to claim a victory. It would have expanded Russia’s territory twice in a decade. Crimea by annexation then eastern Ukraine by arms. You have to be very naive to believe that it would stop there.
Any form of victory will fuel its expansionist ambitions. Skeptics of this thesis should go and reread the history of the beginnings of the Second World War as quickly as possible. Many found Churchill alarmist about the Nazis, and they let Hitler carry out the first phases of his plan without reacting.
And Putin will eventually have a successor. If Putin’s expansionist thesis proves successful, logic dictates that his successor will continue in the same vein upon his retirement or death. In the event of a dismal failure, there will be a questioning.
Photo AFP
High price
Do you think that fighting this war will cost Canada dearly? Imagine the scenario where Putin takes Ukraine completely. Russia would have a common border with Romania, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia, Poland. This advance in Europe among NATO countries would generate staggering military expenditure.
Canada would be called upon for a very long period by its allies to help consolidate this line of defense. It would cost a lot more.
And I’m not even talking about our northern border, in the Arctic, where Russia could threaten us directly.
Despite the passage of time, cowardice is not an option.