The Price for Russian Expansionism in Ukraine

The unity of EU countries demonstrated, on April 4, the price for Russian expansionism in Ukraine when Finland officially joining NATO as a deterrent to Putin’s ambitions of re-building the Soviet Union at the expense of European peace and prosperity. To characterize NATO’s move to contain Putin and his war as anything but defensive is tantamount to misunderstanding Vladimir Putin and the many speeches he delivered, projecting the return to the invasion era of Peter the Great.

Not far behind also joining NATO is Sweden, which both Turkey and Hungary are temporarily blocking for their internal political reasons. Once Sweden joins NATO, Russia, except for Belarus and Ukraine, would be totally surrounded by NATO countries now more than ever intent on limiting the damage to Russian invasions of other countries.

If Russia is in for the long haul, the west is all in for a longer haul.

PUTIN’S MISCALCULATION IS ON COURSE WITH HIS OWN DEMISE

Putin has miscalculated on several fronts the western response to the Ukraine invasion.

For one, he miscalculated that since President Biden was Vice-President during the time in 2014 when he invaded the Crimea and later annexed it, that Biden’s riposte to a full invasion would fall along the same lines as Barack Obama’s lack of interest in picking a fight with Putin to defend Ukraine.

That was grave miscalculation number one.

Furthermore, Putin also miscalculated, once the war started, the resolve of the U.S. and the EU in stopping his war machine. Experts believe that Putin’s calculation was along the lines that the west would quit before he could fully invade and annex more Ukrainian territories. That, of course, did not happen, and won’t happen.

If Russia is in for the long haul, the west is all in for a longer haul.

The Russian war in Ukraine has genuinely exposed the Russian bear to be but an angry rabbit.

RUSSIAN ROLE IN THE WORLD TODAY

The price for Russian expansionism in Ukraine are exacting a toll on Russia in ways that Putin can not escape the unenviable consequences of Russia’s role in the world today. Let us count the ways.

1. The Russian armed forces have proven to be more incompetent than previously evaluated. While Syria may have boosted Putin’s war machine as he descended on helpless and unprotected fighters and civilians, Ukraine is proving to be Russia’s biggest cemetery because its weaponry and tactics in a real war are no match for western defenses and power.
2. For countries, like Saudi Arabia, who toyed with the idea that Russia can protect the country if the United States becomes too demanding when it comes to oil production and exports, have now realized how weak Russia truly is. The United States protecting Ukraine proved there is no substitute for U.S. power in the world.
3. Russian weapon sale and exports have come to a halt for several reasons to include tough sanctions, ineffectiveness, and Russia’s own internal need to fight in Ukraine. That source of income has dried up and countries around the world, who contemplated Russian weapons, are now turning to alternative sources. Those who committed are biting the bullet.
4. NATO doubled its borders with Russia as a result of Russian aggression. Russia’s security is more volatile than ever before, mostly due to Putin’s miscalculations.

The Russian war in Ukraine has genuinely exposed the Russian bear to be but an angry rabbit. Even a 10-year-old can tell you what will become of Vladimir Putin if Ukraine’s spring offensive succeeds in dislodging his forces from the two Oblast he occupied.

Meanwhile, Europe is accelerating towards independence from Russian oil, which is already forcing Russia to sell its natural resources at a discount in the black market.

The Price for Russian Expansionism in Ukraine