By Laurence F. Sanford

Ukraine is not a member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and therefore has no NATO obligation to defend Ukraine from Russian aggression. However, it is in the interests of NATO countries to help Ukraine monetarily and militarily to maintain its independence and prevent further Russian aggression in other countries (the domino theory). The appeasement of Western democracies to Adolf Hitler in buying “peace in our time” directly led to World War II.

The “Falling Domino Principle” was described by President Eisenhower in 1954 in relation to the spread of communism after World War II. If one nation fell to communism, then neighboring countries would inevitably follow in a chain reaction, much like a row of dominoes toppling one after another. China became communist in 1949, Communist North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, and civil wars led by communist insurgents were being waged in Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia. The victory of communist North Vietnam over American-supported South Vietnam led to the killing fields of Cambodia, where one-fourth of the population was murdered.

The domino theory was discredited mainly after Vietnam because communism did not take over the rest of Southeast Asia. However, the lack of success could be due to the American sacrifices in Vietnam, which allowed local Asian governments time to strengthen anti-communism programs.

Vladimir Putin’s goal is to restore the geographic boundaries of the old Soviet Union (USSR). In a 2005 address to the Russian Federal Assembly, Putin called the collapse of the USSR “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century,” with tens of millions of Russians finding themselves outside Russian territory in countries such as Ukraine and the Baltic nations of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania.

The Budapest Agreement of 1994, signed by the U.S., UK, and Russia, included that Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence would be respected in exchange for Ukraine giving up the Soviet nuclear weapons stored on its territory. Ukraine gave up the nukes, but Russia disregarded the agreement and later invaded. Obviously, the agreement was not worth the paper it is written on.

NATO is a military alliance of 32 countries from Europe and North America, founded in 1949 to counter the expansion of the USSR. It states that an attack on one country is an attack on all. The 12 founding members of NATO are Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Now with 32 countries, it includes many European countries that were once under Soviet domination.

Ukraine has been in a holding pattern for joining NATO because of governance issues, corruption, and Russia’s threats if Ukraine were to join. The West should begin the process of accepting Ukraine into NATO. Why should NATO kowtow to Russia on this issue?

Summary

Western democracies need and must support Ukraine militarily and economically against Russia’s aggression. Without Chinese and Iranian support, the war would end tomorrow.

Reciprocity for Ukraine. If Russia can attack Ukraine, why can’t Ukraine attack Russia? Ukraine needs weapon systems that reach Russia.

Western democracies have an identity crisis. Western civilization is founded on Judeo-Christian concepts of individual worth and freedom. The state exists to serve the individual. In totalitarian Marxism and Islamism, the individual exists for the state.

Western Europe has willingly accepted millions of Muslim immigrants whose belief system is anti-Western civilization with the objective of world domination and implementation of Sharia (Islamic) law. Expenditures for the military have shrunk as Western Europe’s social welfare system collapses due to the cost of supporting millions of Muslims who are not assimilating into European culture.

Weakness invites aggression by tyrants. Putin is a thug. The only thing that the ex-KGB officer respects is power. Putin thought he could seize Ukraine in a blitzkrieg. Fortunately, brave and innovative Ukrainians stopped the total conquest, but Russia still controls approximately 20% of Ukraine.

Sanctions have little or no effect on regime change. How have sanctions against Cuba and North Korea worked out?

Action

1. Arm Ukraine with offensive weapons.
2. Begin the process of Ukraine joining NATO.
3. Re-arm America and the West.
4. Recognize that China is waging smokeless, unrestricted warfare against America. Without Chinese support for Russia, the Ukraine war would end.
5. Ally with democracies against the totalitarian threats from China, Russia, and Islam.
6. Increase “gray zone” (non-kinetic) activities for regime change in China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

Laurence F. Sanford is a senior analyst at the American Security Council Foundation.