Ukraine Invasion: US Leadership Critical to Halting the ‘Destruction of Peace’

As Russia’s attack on Ukraine intensifies, the U.S. and Europe are intensifying their own diplomatic offensive. The fight for Ukraine is showing signs of being a prolonged campaign, calling for even more pressure to be put on Russia.

Civilian casualties continue to increase and the number of Ukrainian refugees is ballooning. It is not normal for residential and urban areas, and even nuclear power plants, to become the target of shelling.

In response, the U.S. and Europe have focused on strengthening sanctions against Russia; international businesses have followed suit. The international community has demanded an immediate halt to the attack on Ukraine.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to listen and continues to threaten a “relentless fight.” He has to cease this behavior immediately.

“Freedom will always triumph over tyranny,” said U.S. President Joe Biden in a speech to Congress last week. He enumerated Putin’s “miscalculations” regarding the invasion and remarked that Putin had “met a wall of strength he never imagined. He met the Ukrainian people.” In his speech, Biden expressed his intention to fully support Ukraine.

However, there have been some “miscalculations” on the part of the United States as well. Confidential information was made public and efforts were made to prevent the invasion of Ukraine, but Putin went ahead with the attack anyway.

Russia perceives the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan as a sign of U.S. decline. Because of this, there is a faction that believes that there will be no retaliation for an invasion in Ukraine.

The United States has a heavy responsibility. A comprehensive strategy is needed to obstruct Putin’s path.

First, it must strengthen the defensive abilities of its European allies and increase support for Ukraine. This will bolster foreign relations that put the brakes on Russia’s actions.

The U.S. military has provided large amounts of weapons and equipment for waging ground warfare to Ukraine. It’s essential to show solidarity with Ukraine through actions that will not yield to the invasion.

The U.S. and Europe are considering bans and sanctions on Russian oil. The aim is to strike a severe blow to the Russian economy but it creates a sudden increase in crude oil prices and would impact the world economy.

The key is the Middle Eastern countries. The U.S. should reexamine policies in order to develop better relationships right away with countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have been deepening their respective relationships with Russia.

Russia is strengthening its ties with dictators in Africa and Central and South America through various means, including arms trade. Efforts to cut this off are also needed.

The path to restoring freedom and overthrowing peace-destroying tyranny is steep, but we must not be disheartened. It would not possible without U.S. leadership.