Thread by @EHunterChristie

1/ We should do more to support #Ukraine militarily.
It is tempting to fear the mental condition of Mr. Putin. But this neglects how easy it is for the Putin regime to shape our perceptions, what with long tables and angry ramblings. His little circus should be ignored.

2/ We should supply whatever equipment #Ukraine asks for, excluding WMDs. UCAVs similar to the TB2 seem helpful, let's get plenty more over, and other similar systems. Ukrainians need to be able to demolish advancing columns of hostile forces. It's a win-win.

3/ There's also the maritime dimension. Various capabilities should be supplied to Ukraine. Again it's a win-win. The more Russian ships lie at the bottom of the Black Sea, the better for everyone in the region.

4/ On the general notion that the West should look for off-ramps or for deescalation, I'm not sure that is wise. Why deescalate with an aggressor? That makes for a weak bargaining position, as usual. It is better, instead, to signal indifference to Russia's demands.

5/ The policy principle must be as follows: only Ukraine decides whether to fight on, and how to fight on. So far, they are ferocious. They are a friend in need, and our duty is to help them with any and all equipment we can give.

6/ Then there is the humanitarian level. While it is clear that our full military response is only for NATO nations, we should make it clear that atrocities beyond a certain level will trigger kinetic strikes against Russian forces. Consider the counterfactual.

7/ Assume Russia initiates large-scale massacres of Ukrainians while threatening us with nuclear weapons. Can we let that pass? No, because that is a danger to humanity we cannot accept. This is not merely an ethical point, it is also deterrence that helps Europe as a whole.

8/ So the signal should be: we're watching closely and providing assistance to the heroic defenders of Ukraine. That's not negotiable. And we warn Moscow that we will intervene to save lives in Ukraine if the situation exceeds a certain *unspecified* threshold.

9/ Then there is the economic dimension. No doubt the Kremlin thinks they can cause destruction and somehow Europe will pay for it. No. Russia will pay for it, in hard currency. And this should also be announced.

10/ We liquidate all Russian assets on our territories and put them in a fund for the defence and reconstruction of Ukraine, to be disbursed according to the wishes of Ukraine. Legitimacy is given by the UNGA resolution which establishes that Russia is guilty of aggression.

11/ Imposing this on an aggressor state has very positive implications. It would establish legal precedent and act as a deterrent for future aggression. It would also help a future Russia to understand where it went wrong and what it means to be a responsible nation. END