The Europeans just proved they learned their lesson. They learned from experience that Russian President Vladimir Putin is like all bad leaders – unless they are stopped they get worse. Without fail.
It’s what, predictably, he has done in the past – both at home and abroad. And it’s what, predictably, he will do in the future – both at home and abroad. Putin is a far worse leader now – much more oppressive at home, and much more aggressive abroad – than he was twenty or even ten years ago.
It’s why members of the European Union got their act together. First, with one exception they reached an agreement on what they would do because they concluded they must. Second, they took turns bullying and cajoling the sole holdout -– he was of course Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban – until he finally caved.* Third, as of a day ago they are prepared to provide Ukraine with a significant aid package over a four year period, of some $54 billion dollars.
Similarly, precisely because most in the West have learned their lesson, members of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance to which the United States of course belongs, is doing a much better job than it did in the past of preparing for further Russan aggression. Europe, especially the countries of East Europe, is obviously much closer to the action than is the U.S. It’s why after Russia invaded Ukraine, Finland and Sweden made the historic decision to become NATO members. And it’s why countries such as Estonia fear nothing so much as another Trump presidency. Another Trump presidency during which virtually assuredly NATO would be, at best, derided and short-changed, and at worst starved and even scuttled.
While the U.S. Congress dithers over continuing to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to keep Putin at bay, he is doing everything he can to expand his war machine and keep it humming. In the past year Russia’s economy has been militarized, and its army has had huge infusions of capital to provide it with new and better weapons. (Including, significantly, from Iran.)
Americans should make no mistake. If we lay claim to “Ukraine fatigue” we will, in time, pay dearly. Unless, of course, Putin is not a man but a leopard. A leopard who changes his spots.
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*For more on Orban see my piece posted on December 20: Little Leader with a Big Stick – Barbara Kellerman