“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” Elie Wiesel, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize

Europe often sees Ukraine only as a victim. That is a dangerous oversimplification. Ukraine is a major military power in its own right. For the last two centuries, most so-called russian victories depended heavily on Ukraine. Against Napoleon Bonaparte, the Russian Empire relied on Ukrainian manpower, food supplies, horses, and Cossack cavalry. Against Adolf Hitler, millions of Ukrainians fought in the Red Army, while Ukrainian industry, agriculture, and territory were decisive for Soviet victory. The same pattern appeared in darker chapters of European history. The partition of Poland, the Warsaw Pact’s military threat, the war against Finland, and even the war in Afghanistan were all enabled by imperial armies that included massive Ukrainian participation. In the USSR, the most advanced intercontinental ballistic missiles were designed and manufactured in Ukraine and serviced by Ukrainians until 2014. Ukrainians made up roughly 40% of Soviet army officers in the 1980s. The world’s largest cargo aircraft was built in Ukraine. russia wants all of this back — and without Ukraine, its missiles now explode on roughly every second launch. Ukraine also possesses around 30% of the world’s black soil, the most fertile agricultural land on Earth — an enormous source of strategic leverage. In addition, Ukraine holds major mineral resources, including uranium, ranking among the top ten countries globally by uranium reserves. History shows a simple rule: russia looks strongest when it controls Ukraine. If russia absorbs Ukraine today, Europe will not face a tired or weakened aggressor. It will face the strongest and most experienced army on the continent — reinforced by Ukrainian manpower, battlefield experience, and industrial capacity. “Without Ukraine, russia ceases to be an empire. With Ukraine suborned and then subordinated, russia automatically becomes an empire.” — Zbigniew Brzezinski Ukraine can become the backbone of Europe’s defense against russia. Or, if left unsupported, it can be forcibly absorbed — and then brought to Europe’s doorstep. Supporting Ukraine is not charity. It is strategic self-defense. Author: Volodymyr Kukharenko