Unless Russia is defeated, we will enter dark period

SEARCH the headlines for January 1, 2022 and you will see no mention of Ukraine. There was no mention of the Russian military build-up on the border. Received wisdom was that President Putin was not about to invade: his aim was to intimidate the Ukrainians into a declaration that they would never join Nato.

- Stephen Pollard

And then on February 24 the world changed as Russia’s forces entered Ukraine.

This year will almost certainly decide the long-term consequences of Russia’s behaviour.

Bluntly, unless Russia is defeated – unambiguously – the world will enter a dark period where all that matters is might.

International law will have been smashed and Western democracies exposed as pusillanimous.

That message will resonate across the planet, not least with the Chinese, who will see it as a clear message that our words of defiance and solidarity are meaningless.

Under the leadership of President Zelensky, the Ukrainians have inspired the free world with their resistance and have exposed as a myth the idea that Russia’s military is unbeatable.

But while Ukraine’s armed forces have proved exceptionally able and agile, they are wholly dependent on Western support.

We should take some pride in the way we have rallied to their cause – and for the imposition of serious sanctions against Russia and Putin’s allies.

But what we have done so far will count for nothing as the fighting continues. Russia will win a war of attrition unless we continue to give Ukraine what it needs to defeat the invader.

And if Russia wins – or is able convincingly to claim a victory – then the game is over for all of us.