Change

Putin's failure and EU's gain

By Darryl Weng

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Just a year ago, the European Union’ stance had remained almost the same for decades - pacifist in manner and leaning socialist politically. Military technology and troops in Europe appeared to be mostly reliant on the U.S, often reducing the need for defense spending. Young people took hold of European politics, so politics leaned to the appeal of young people - often heavily bent on morals more than reason. Budgets for the military were laughable, debts soared over COVID policy failures, and Europe’s economy took far too much of a liking to the Putin and Xi regimes.

Then, amidst Russia’s brutal attack on Ukraine, Europe, as a whole, changed. European countries and their people suppressed themselves from the Russian oil that they relied so much on, even attempting to cut themselves off of the Russian natural gas supply that filled more than 40% of their imports. The EU sanctioned Russian oligarchs and increased weapon production to provide Ukraine with military equipment. Most importantly, the EU found its voice. Germany, once promising to raise its spending on military to a measly 1.5 percent of its GDP by 2025, has just committed 100 billion worth of euros to defense spending. Talks of Ukraine joining the EU has once again sparked interest.

Putin did not foresee the abrupt change in the policies of European countries that he thought would simply back off along with a weak U.S resolve for no war. Russia’s attack on Ukraine in 2014 and today have pushed policy makers in Europe to their limits. In this era - this modern era - no policy maker would even believe that a leader of a nation would dare to attack a sovereign country with such cruel ambitions. And yet it happened. Civilians were targeted, and anti-war protesters in Russia were jailed by the thousands.

Putin has faltered. His ambitions of a modern Soviet Union are full of arrogance and blinded by cruelty. Like the classic dictator he is, Putin has a plethora of able generals, but no general dares to disagree with Putin and remark on the failures of this war. He surrounds himself with a defense minister whose lack of military background instigated a faulty plan for invading Ukraine that has been met with victorious resistance by the Ukrainian people.

Putin is scared. He targets civilians to push them to flee, but they are patriotic Ukrainians who will not leave without a valiant fight. He pushes for “negotiations” - negotiations that end with the surrender of Ukraine. He threatens nuclear warfare, but he knows his threat will most likely push nearly every other nation in the world - including China - to declare war on Russia. He is alone now, with his closest confidants, once proud and confident, now nervous and almost full of gloom when carrying out the words of Putin to the world. After the Russian people, Ukraine is Putin’s greatest fear.

Ukrainians have suffered endless casualties, but their patriotism and leaders have received the sympathy of the world. While the major allies like the U.S and Germany have reacted slowly, the support for Ukrainians worldwide still grows ever so fast. When the Russian invasion of Ukraine ends and the Crimean peninsula is reclaimed, the world will be drastically changed politically and mentally. The greatest change, however, is that of Europe. Perhaps Europe will soon find reason equally worthy as morals and seek greater independence economically and militarily.