There’s a puzzling trend among European leaders who appear to be seeking peace at any price in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz have both recently made conciliatory statements towards Russia. Both seem hesitant to criticize the nation that, unprovoked, invaded its neighbour, murdered its citizens and is inflicting untold suffering on innocent people.
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Russia is intent on destroying critical Ukrainian infrastructure so its people will starve in the cold this winter.
Yet on a recent state visit to the U.S., Macron talked about the need to create a new security framework that takes into consideration Russia’s concerns about NATO’s expansion.
Even European Union President Ursula von der Leyen seems intent on putting pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. She recently tweeted an inflated number of Ukrainians who have died or been injured in the war. The tweet was later toned down, but it’s clear there are European politicians who want to make nice with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This comes at a time when Europe is reaping the whirlwind of its foolish dependence on Russia for cheap energy. With many countries facing an economic downturn and a long cold winter, they’re now pursuing the peace at any price option.
It didn’t work for former British prime minister Neville Chamberlain before the Second World War and it won’t work now.
Caving in to Russian demands and allowing it to claim victory will only embolden Putin and his henchmen. Allowing him to annex the Ukrainian territory Russia has occupied since the start of the war would be a huge mistake. Shockingly, European nations that, within human memory were embroiled in a world war, have not learned the awful lessons of that conflict. Tyrants exploit any sign of weakness.
Britain and the U.S. are contributing the most by way of armaments to Ukraine. Europeans seem hesitant to offend their bellicose neighbour.
Canada must take note. Europe isn’t the only place Putin is flexing Russian muscle. The country recently launched a nuclear powered icebreaker that will ensure year-round navigation of the Arctic. Canada must beef up its armed forces and secure our Arctic borders. We must not repeat the mistakes of the past.
We can’t afford the high cost of peace at any price.
