It should be more than clear by now to all that the U.S. is not pursuing the policy of Russian military & political defeat. It was never the plan. It should ALSO be crystal clear that DC never intended for Kyiv to achieve even military battlefield victory in Ukraine.
1/10
The United States has never created the conditions for Ukraine to retake and liberate all Ukrainian territory, never mind resounding battlefield victory. They have created the conditions for ongoing Russian extermination of the Ukrainian nation and people.
2/10
The U.S. has never given Ukraine everything it needs to enjoy military victory on its own territory, deliberately holding back weapons essential even for this goal. They have deliberately shackled Ukraine's LEGAL right to self-defence against Russia's ILLEGAL aggression.
3/10
The U.S. has prevented Ukraine from doing what is essential to protect Ukrainian territory, civil and nuclear infrastructure, as well as the lives of Ukrainian civilians from Russian missiles.
4/10
It must finally be said unambiguously that the US is pursuing the policy of PROTECTING RUSSIA. And this heinous and grotesque policy is about far more than merely "avoiding direct confrontation with Russia". This is about the US selfishness, greed, immorality, and delusion.
5/10
They really believe their short-sighted political interests are paramount, so much so that they are knowingly, willfully, and deliberately harming and sacrificing MILLIONS of Ukrainians lives, Ukrainian territory, statehood, international law, intl security & stability.
6/10
It is delusional to believe that the U.S. is so powerful Russia dare not attack US interests. It's delusional to think that Ukraine can be the sacrificial lamb for broader peace. It is delusional to think the US is too big to fail, and that RU isn't pursuing this objective.
7/10
It is abhorrent beyond words that the United States can claim status of "leader of the free world" when it is serving Ukraine on a platter to Moscow, allowing genocide, allowing the obliteration of the post-WW2 security architecture, and putting the free world in peril.
8/10
And every single "have not" NATO member should be shaking in their boots about being another nation that can be sacrificed for fleeting political interests of the United States. If a nation of 45 million can be thrown to the Russian wolves, why not a nation of 3 million?
9/10
Every nation should be asking itself whether they truly believe that the U.S. won't be obstructionist when Moscow attacks their capitals, and threatens their existence. American citizens should be asking themselves why they are allowing their government to SELL THEM OUT.
10/10
Today, at the Ukrainian Festival in Toronto, I had the privilege and honour of meeting Ukrainian veteran, Roman Maksymets, who was severely injured in 2016 in a Russian attack in Maryinka. (Yes, 2016! Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014!!!) 1/9
Roman lost both legs, his right arm, vision in his left eye entirely, right eye partially, and much of his hearing. He has had extensive reconstructive surgery on his face.
2/9
Despite the physical hell he has endured, Roman radiates a remarkable positivity. His kindness and incredibly friendly and gentle nature are palpable even from a distance.
3/9
1. Since Russia's war of aggression is entirely ILLEGAL, EVERY single target in UA is illegal & unlawful - civilians & soldiers alike. 2. These are standard Russian attacks on Ukraine meant to depopulate Ukraine of Ukrainians and to terrorize Ukrainians into conceding defeat. 1/7
3. The "peace" the US pursues is in line with Russian objectives. Washington habitually coerces Kyiv to concede to Moscow. Ukrainian defeat is the "peace" RU seeks. Since Trump came to power, Russia has felt notably more emboldened to strike civilians. The stats are damning.
2/7
4 Washington helped Moscow commit strikes on Ukrainian civilians, when DC deliberately withheld military aid and intelligence from Kyiv, inviting horrific strikes against civilians and infrastructure in the capital and across Ukraine.
3/7
The West believes that Ukraine should fight to the last Ukrainian standing. Conscript each and every young (and not so young), able-bodied (and not able-bodied) Ukrainian. Let every Ukrainian leave their studies, their employment, their families. 1/5
Many Ukrainians on the front line have been fighting for the last three and half years. A number have been fighting since 2014!!!
Yesterday's civilians, who had to abandon their entire lives to fight genocidal Russian barbarians are defending Europe.
2/5
Heads of state & government of western nations acknowledge that Ukraine is defending not only itself but Europe as well as the entire free world. In doing so, they acknowledge that RU's war is not only about UA, but about the entire, western-led international security order.
3/5
Russia rids Ukraine of Ukrainian children, destroying the future of the nation. This is genocide. RU achieves this genocidal objective by: 1. Abducting Ukrainian children from occupied regions & sending them to Russia to erase their Ukrainian identities & poison them against UA🧵
2. Killing Ukrainian children in their homes, in hospitals (including in maternity wards and children's hospitals), playgrounds, schools, and when seeking shelter and fleeing Russian forces, war, and genocide. More than 2 children are killed and more than 4 injured each day.🧵
3. Creating conditions in Ukraine incompatible with life, forcing parents to flee their homes and the country. Two thirds of Ukrainian children have been displaced. Close to 3 million are refugees in western countries. They will likely never return to live in Ukraine.🧵
NO, Russia does NOT want a "neutral, non-aligned Ukraine" governed by a "puppet government." This position misses everything about Russia's goals, and plays into Russian propaganda about its UNPROVOKED war against Ukraine.
1/4
Ukraine WAS NON-ALIGNED when Russia invaded. There was no danger of Ukraine joining NATO. It wasn't a popular concept in Ukraine, and most importantly, there was NO chance that NATO was going to invite Ukraine as a member.
2/4
Russia's goal isn't a pliant Ukraine. That could have been achieved by means of political subversion. Russia's goal isn't to amass *some* Ukrainian territory and let the rest be a pliant, puppet regime. Russia's goal is Ukraine's total annihilation and destruction.
3/4
In 2022, Ukrainian civilians barricaded the road to the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (Europe's largest NPP) to defend it against Russian forces. They faced Russian tanks totally unarmed. NATO nations are afraid to shoot down UNMANNED Russian drones & missiles in Ukraine. 1/5
Instances of Ukrainian civilians standing down Russian tanks - even columns of them -with nothing but their bodies abound. Yet NATO nations won't even enlist their PROFESSIONAL ARMIES to do even things which avoid direct confrontation with RU, like protecting Ukrainian skies. 2/5
When Russia attacks a NATO nation, how can its citizens have any faith that their army will have the fortitude to protect them when their governments think it's too scary to shoot down UNMANNED drones and missiles which kill Ukrainian civilians sleeping in their beds???
3/5