As Ukraine greets its thirty first yr of independence, it finds itself combating a battle for its existential existence. It’s not of battle of its selection or of its making and it isn’t a results of its belligerence, however a consequence of the imperialistic ambition of its neighbor who can not besides the brand new historic actuality that can quickly redefine the area’s existence.
Nonetheless, Ukraine did make a selection of its personal volition that confirms and defines its independence: It has chosen to withstand Russia’s imperialistic ambitions thus affirming its sovereignty.
It selected this manner at a value that also has not been absolutely enumerated. After six months of battle that many assumed would final one week, what may be identified for positive is that Ukraine won’t below any circumstances be occupied, submit itself to the political subjugation of Russia or compromise its political sovereignty.
This isn’t a battle of independence. Ukraine is an unbiased, fashionable European and democratic nation.
Whatever the frequently altering navy state of affairs on the bottom, Ukraine has already gained the battle in opposition to Russia. For if there’s one truism that’s each day revealing itself because it defends itself in opposition to a legal authoritarian and genocidal neighbor, it’s for the world to acknowledge that Ukraine won’t ever submit itself to the dictates of the Russian world. Interval.
What stays is for Ukraine to depend its lifeless, to grieve them, after which return to the work of reworking its society into a contemporary, dignified and rules-based democratic state.
Ukraine’s resistance has upended long-held assumptions in regards to the validity of the precept of “sphere of affect” in a post-Chilly Battle world. Its resistance and sacrifice have earned it the correct to make its personal selections over its sovereignty and the willpower of its nationwide future. It categorically rejects Russia and has chosen “Europe” and the political traditions of democracy.
Ukraine is just not Russia and by no means will probably be. It by no means was. Regardless of many years, and even centuries, of Russian efforts and Soviet propaganda to distort Ukraine’s distinctive historical past and tradition to affect the pondering of Ukraine as a part of its empire, Ukraine is, by all definitions, a sovereign nation.
It is a cussed reality for a lot of, and even for some Westerners, to simply accept, however it’s, nonetheless true and that which can’t be denied. Ukraine’s present-time resistance to Russian ambitions and its willingness to sacrifice on the sphere of battle solely additional attests to its willpower.
Ukraine won’t ever submit itself to the imperial ambitions of Russia. It can not. The values of Ukrainians, most notably their inherent genetic disposition in direction of freedom, won’t enable for this to occur. Ukraine has and can proceed to withstand Putin’s fascism and the Russian navy’s genocidal aggression. on the sphere of battle. This may solely harden this truth into the mentality of the Russian thoughts and that of Kyiv’s Western companions.
Russia’s conceitedness and its political and financial isolation will most likely result in its weakening and supreme demise. Its conception of the usage of energy has led to a revelation of the perversity of its energy. That is one more truism that has resulted from Ukraine’s existential critique of Russian chauvinism. Russia is a dying tradition and anti-human.
On this area, human rights management, modernity and alter, together with pragmatic cultural and financial innovation has at all times emanated from Kyiv. Historical past reveals that it’s Ukraine that determines the grand historical past of the area. It is a historical past that can’t be denied.
Because the battle ends in Ukraine, it can as soon as once more take up the chance to evolve on its historic European course. In profitable the battle, it can have developed in its understanding of how its historical past and worldview will form and in the end decide the way forward for this area. Most necessary, it’s inside the context of this historic custom that it’ll certainly remodel itself into a contemporary and democratic nation primarily based on the primacy of human dignity and the rule of legislation.
Russia has by no means had such traditions and such values are each alien to Russians in regard to their psychology and societal observe. Russians, regardless of their periodic ambitions in direction of Europe, have at all times revealed that the important nature of their civilization is deeply rooted in Asiatic despotism. Russia has by no means developed into a rustic the place there’s respect for human dignity or the sovereignty of legislation as a foundation for home political rule. Such important elements merely don’t exist inside their genes.
The proof of that is evident as they try to destroy each a rustic and tradition that aspires to rework itself right into a society the place particular person freedom and the aspirations of its persons are pointed towards nationwide freedom and sovereign rules-based autonomy.
Putin understands this fairly clearly. It’s this that he fears. That is the explanation that he desires to destroy Ukraine. He applies the one mechanism that the tradition of Russia and the remnants of Soviet totalitarianism and authoritarianism enable him, that’s; for those who can not management one thing or somebody, you then destroy it, particularly if it resists.
Russia, and Putinism particularly, will not be builders of a society that gives a context for particular person human progress, however are soul and life destroyers, dying tradition fanatics who persistently comply with a street to subjugation, imposing serfdom upon all those that yearn to specific their innate need for freedom and sovereignty. That is additionally why they bomb hospitals, colleges, and cultural establishments, and kill civilians. They’re fearmongers and are liable for the displacement of tens of millions.
Submit-Maidan Ukraine has chosen a path to freedom and as such is perceived as a risk to the current political order and the very existence of Russia as it’s now formulated. The Russian Federation has misplaced the philosophical battle in opposition to Ukraine, it simply doesn’t understand it but. Its nihilism is unable to even humanly justify its validity because it presently features. For Putin and for a majority of Russians, battle is freedom. 
Peace seekers should settle for a brand new formulation and understanding of an unbiased Ukraine. Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence are non-negotiable. That is the brand new actuality. Sarcastically, this modified panorama was introduced upon by an conceited, risk-taking Putin when he began the battle in opposition to Ukraine.
Ukraine is studying that independence, and the liberty that evolves from it, have to be fought for and that the fee for freedom is a good one, each in blood and treasure. However it’s clear that Ukraine and most of its persons are prepared to pay this value.
This actual fact can’t be misplaced on its Western companions. Within the struggle for freedom, sovereignty and independence, there is no such thing as a quarter to be given within the type of compromise. Ukraine can not be thought of some “borderland” whose future and destiny may be bargained for via compromise at some negotiating desk.
An unbiased Ukraine is a historic truth. Empire thinkers should settle for this new actuality and act accordingly if a “geopolitical” peace is to be attained.
