OPINION:
As bombs continue to rain down upon Kyiv, the Ukrainian people and their leader have inspired the world by refusing to run, demonstrating a fighting spirit reminiscent of American colonists in the Revolutionary War. In a world where so many tyrants and terrorists have recently gone unchallenged, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has transformed his nation into a worldwide symbol of awe-inspiring hope, and a reminder of what America once was — and could be again.
Despite the Western world’s hopes, sanctions have not worked, nor will they. Even in the wake of the ruble crash and Moscow Exchange freeze, Russian President Vladimir Putin has only escalated brutal war crimes and made direct nuclear threats to the U.S. and NATO allies. The free world must now face itself in the mirror and make a decision.
Will NATO match Mr. Zelenskyy’s bravery or cower behind the veil of neutrality like Switzerland in the Second World War, simply because after years of courting Ukraine, the alliance never offered her formal alliance membership? Does the United Nations continue to pretend Moscow has not violated its charter just because Russia could use its power to veto a security council vote to use multinational force?
The free world can continue to insist it has no legal obligation to save Ukraine — but there’s no honor in hiding behind the law to avoid fighting injustice.
I believe the U.S. and NATO should join the fight to save Ukraine.
Mr. Zelenskyy acted in good faith to join the free world. Since taking office in 2019, he did everything he could to join the alliance, including passing a constitutional amendment to make it law. This is because Mr. Zelenskyy is a true leader who loves his people and wants his country to walk in step with the free world. Had NATO not strung along Mr. Zelensky for as long as it did with coquettish weakness and indecision, Russia would not have become so emboldened.
Ukraine is in this terrible situation because the free world was too indecisive to give Kyiv a clear answer, and when you don’t make decisions for yourself, history often makes them for you. In this case, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a decision for all of us, and now the free world faces a test — it can either abandon Ukraine in the face of evil or it can show the world that in the end, good triumphs as it did in the Second World War.
President Biden has said, “That’s a world war when Americans and Russians start shooting at another.” But look at the consequence of the West’s inaction so far. Even months before the Ukraine crisis erupted, America shocked the world in what felt like a “cut and run” to the helpless Afghani people who pleaded for us not to leave them at the hands of Taliban rapists and terrorists.
Even then, many columnists compared Mr. Biden’s avoidance and isolationism to former British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and his fatal mistake of conceding the Sudetenland to the Third Reich. As Churchill said then to Chamberlain, “You were given the choice of war or dishonor. You chose dishonor, and you will have war.”
This is a defining moment for the free world, and perception is power. If the free world does not step in now and show the world who is really in charge, the world will remain intimidated by Russia and feel resentment toward America.
Mr. Zelenskyy’s uncontested bravery and the Ukrainian people’s unwavering fortitude have set the bar and reminded all of us of what we should be aspiring to. If we turn away now, we will never forgive ourselves. We will continue to feel as we did when we saw Iranian protestors come together in 2009, Venezuelan demonstrators take to the streets in 2019, and the Cuban people rise up in 2021 — powerless.
That’s not the America I want to continue living in, nor is it the America I believe in.
That kind of ambivalence and heartlessness is beneath America, and she deserves better — because she is better. Leading the free world means just that, not “leading from behind.” Leading comes from heroism by taking a stand for moral reasons when you don’t have to.
Morality is why President Abraham Lincoln risked civil war to end slavery and why Churchill rejected Adolf Hitler’s 1940 “appeal to reason” when he offered “peace” to England in exchange for a clear path to invade the rest of Europe. Those decisions were never about strategy — they were about morality and compassion.
Mr. Zelenskyy has told his people it is clear that Ukraine is alone, and that no one is coming to save them. But through his bravery he has spoken to Russia and the world. When the Biden administration offered to evacuate the Ukrainian president from Kyiv and abandon his people, he refused to leave, saying, “I need ammunition, not a ride.” Roughly translated, “Give me liberty or give me death.”
Mr. Biden, his administration and our NATO allies could learn something from Mr. Zelenskyy.
Perhaps we all can.
• Jeffrey Scott Shapiro is the former director of the U.S. Office of Cuba Broadcasting and the assistant commentary editor for The Washington Times.
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