Wars of aggression must end in defeat or peace 🕊️ will never return.
That’s the argument of my latest op-ed for🇨🇭Switzerland’s leading paper: Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German)
Here’s the summary in a short thread 🧵
1/9
That’s the argument of my latest op-ed for🇨🇭Switzerland’s leading paper: Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German)
Here’s the summary in a short thread 🧵
1/9
What’s happening in 🇺🇦 is not a “conflict.”
It’s not a misunderstanding between two sides.
It’s a war of choice by russia: a criminal act of aggression under international law.
It will only end when russia stops attacking. Not when Ukraine stops defending itself.
2/9
It’s not a misunderstanding between two sides.
It’s a war of choice by russia: a criminal act of aggression under international law.
It will only end when russia stops attacking. Not when Ukraine stops defending itself.
2/9
Western Europe says it supports 🇺🇦, but too often from a safe emotional distance.
Solidarity is duly expressed & aid provided, but it comes with a subtle detachment and implicit insistence that the war, however grave, is ultimately Ukraine’s ordeal, not Europe’s.
3/9
Solidarity is duly expressed & aid provided, but it comes with a subtle detachment and implicit insistence that the war, however grave, is ultimately Ukraine’s ordeal, not Europe’s.
3/9
Baltic, Polish, and Scandinavian leaders have woken up.
But much of Western Europe still clings to the fantasy of “peace in our time,” as long as the violence stays far enough east.
This is not strategy. It’s self-deception.
4/9
But much of Western Europe still clings to the fantasy of “peace in our time,” as long as the violence stays far enough east.
This is not strategy. It’s self-deception.
4/9
Deep-rooted pacifism is partly to blame: a moral principle & a convenient excuse
The horrors of the early 20th century left an enduring aversion to force & a belief that restraint guaranteed peace
So politicians dodged responsibility until the illusion was shattered in 2022
5/9
The horrors of the early 20th century left an enduring aversion to force & a belief that restraint guaranteed peace
So politicians dodged responsibility until the illusion was shattered in 2022
5/9
Ukraine is not a burden.
🇺🇦 is the guarantor of European security.
Every russian tank stopped, every drone shot down — that’s deterrence in action.
The only reason Europe can still debate peace is because #Ukraine keeps fighting.
6/9
🇺🇦 is the guarantor of European security.
Every russian tank stopped, every drone shot down — that’s deterrence in action.
The only reason Europe can still debate peace is because #Ukraine keeps fighting.
6/9
Western leaders still have real options:
♦️ transfer $300B of russian assets
♦️ Close the Baltic to russia’s shadow fleet
♦️ Deliver Taurus missiles and long-range weapons
♦️ Build a shield over Ukrainian skies
♦️ invest massively in Ukrainian defence production
7/9
♦️ transfer $300B of russian assets
♦️ Close the Baltic to russia’s shadow fleet
♦️ Deliver Taurus missiles and long-range weapons
♦️ Build a shield over Ukrainian skies
♦️ invest massively in Ukrainian defence production
7/9
If anything can curb Moscow’s violence, it’s a free world that stops apologizing for its strength and starts using it.
Supporting Ukraine “as long as it takes” isn’t enough.
There must be consequences for aggression. No more impunity.
8/9
Supporting Ukraine “as long as it takes” isn’t enough.
There must be consequences for aggression. No more impunity.
8/9
This was my first guest op-ed in NZZ and my second column in German.
If you agree that aggressors must lose for peace to win, please read and share:
📰
9/9
Danke 🇨🇭nzz.ch/meinung/angrif…
If you agree that aggressors must lose for peace to win, please read and share:
📰
9/9
Danke 🇨🇭nzz.ch/meinung/angrif…
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