Ukraine defends the freedom of Europe
The EU must now prove that it possesses the capacity to act in foreign policy. Targeted sanctions against the Putin system are necessary. By Karl von Habsburg. (Find English version below.)
What observers have long expected has come to pass. Following a request from the Duma – even warmongering dictators like to cloak themselves in the mantle of pure democracy – Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognised the independence of the two Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, and is now officially sending troops into these areas. Anyone familiar with the map of Ukraine knows that these two regions encompass far more than the part of eastern Ukraine occupied by Russian mercenaries. The tactic is familiar from many other Russian acts of aggression (for example, Georgia 2008).
Based on past experience, Putin can naturally expect the free world to react to his war with nothing but empty rhetoric. That would be an invitation for him to let his tanks advance further into Ukraine.
Frantic trips to Moscow by politicians allow the Russian President to use his propaganda media to show the Russian population that their country is a world power once again, and that he, Putin, is the man who has achieved this feat. They all talk to him as they did during the Cold War, when the USSR was also a world power.
The EU is now called upon to prove its capacity to act in foreign policy. This requires targeted sanctions aimed directly at the Russian President and his inner circle, who are responsible for this war. They all have their villas in Europe, their accounts in Western banks, their yachts in Western waters, and their businesses in the free world. They must be cut off from this luxury. Former leading politicians of Western states who work for Russian companies should now have the decency to end their activities for the Putin system.
Ukraine itself is ready to defend itself. However, the country needs support from the EU to do so – specifically military equipment, meaning weapons that enhance its defensive capabilities. For we must be clear about one thing: Ukraine is not only defending its own freedom; it is also defending the freedom of Europe.
Ukraine defends the freedom of Europe
The EU must now prove that it has the capacity to act in foreign policy. By Karl von Habsburg
What observers have long expected has happened. Following a request from the Duma – even dictators like to act as if there were a democracy – Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of the two Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and is now officially sending troops to these regions. Anyone familiar with the map of Ukraine knows that these two areas mean far more than the part of eastern Ukraine occupied by Russian mercenaries. The tactic is known from many other Russian invasions (e.g. Georgia 2008).
Based on past experience, Putin can of course expect that the free world will only react to his war with empty words. That would be like an invitation to let his tanks advance further into Ukraine.
Frantic political trips to Moscow allow the Russian President, through his propaganda media, to show the Russian people that their country is once again a world power and that he, Putin, is the man who accomplished this feat. They all talk to him like they did during the Cold War, when the USSR was also a world power.
The EU is now called upon to demonstrate its ability to act in foreign policy. This requires targeted sanctions aimed directly at the Russian President and his immediate environment, which is causing this war. They all have their mansions in Europe, their accounts in Western banks, their yachts in Western waters, and their businesses in the free world. They must be cut off from these luxuries. Former Western leaders who work for Russian companies should now have the decency to resign from the Putin system.
Ukraine itself is ready to defend itself. To do this, however, the country needs support from the EU, specifically military equipment, i.e. weapons that increase its defence capability. Because we must be clear about one thing: Ukraine is not only defending its own freedom, it is also defending the freedom of Europe.
© Featured image: OSCE
