President Zelensky has indicated that Ukraine is ready to be neutral, but for obvious reasons it can no longer trust Russia. For this to work, Ukraine needs security guarantees from other nations to help the country in case active hostilities were to resume. During the Russian-Chechen wars, Russia was defeated at first but then came back to attack three years later. It is clear from such a precedent that Russia could use the same playbook in Ukraine even after a peace treaty is signed.
Ukraine could defend its neutrality alone if it was properly armed, but it will take a lot of time and money to create a more advanced defence industry in Ukraine. Accordingly, massive supplies of modern weaponry (anti-tank missiles, munitions, air defence systems, etc.), as well as major funding and training from the West, will be needed for Ukraine to defeat Russia and prevent them from attacking NATO member countries.
In addition to providing Ukraine with the required funding and arms, Europe needs to get its own house in order by working internally to exert pressure on certain recidivist nations, who support the Kremlin. Support for Russia or inaction that plays in Russia’s favour must be stopped. For the immediate future, every effort should be focused on the economic and military suppression of Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Western nations must realise that Russia’s attack on Ukraine is just one stage in Moscow’s strategic goal to destabilise Western democracy and foster its collapse. By destroying evil at its root, we will remove the threat looming over our nations and ensure a peaceful future for the next generation.
