Last Friday, March 1, I accompanied President Zelensky on a trip to Kharkiv. We visited a military hospital, where I saw a Ukrainian soldier with both his legs fully amputated. He suffered this terrible injury during a Russian mass artillery strike.
Due to a critical lack of artillery shells, Ukrainian artillery could not suppress the Russian one and protect its infantrymen. He is now forced to live his life without both legs. He was silently staring at the window, deep in his thoughts about the future.
Ukraine is facing such a situation only because our allies in Europe and the United States debated for months the decisions that would provide Ukraine with sufficient quantities of artillery ammunition. They have not increased their arms production on time, dragged feet on critical procurement in third countries, and exported shells produced in Europe to other regions instead of Ukraine.
Putin fixated
With all this in the background, we are cautiously optimistic about the latest Paris summit decision [on February 26] to increase ammo purchases in third countries. We are grateful for this step. However, it is not enough. Resolute and systemic decisions, not heated discussions, are urgently needed.
A strategy of victory requires three things: unity, unity, and unity. The unity of society, commanders and soldiers, military and political leadership, and unity among allies. Without brave and honest responses to the questions brought up at the summit in Paris, there will not be unity and strategy.
Rest assured, Russia has a strategy. The militarization of its economy and the December 2021 document, in which Moscow demanded NATO pull back from Central Europe. In practice, this would mean handing the region over to Russia and restoring Russia's influence within the former borders of the USSR, which Putin is so fixated on.
As a skilled empire, Russia has always had strategic endurance. Let me remind readers that less than nine years passed between the battle of Austerlitz, which Russia lost, and Russian soldiers entering Paris. The context was different, but the lesson is relevant: In big wars, the tables can turn in your favor if you have endurance and allies. Ukraine has allies who struggle to build their endurance.
Confident in our warriors
Debate is part of our democratic culture. But it is critical to conclude the debate with concrete solutions. To seek actions, not excuses.
In this respect, we welcome the resolute decisions and messages of the recent Paris summit, as well as President Macron's sense of urgency and devotedness to the only just cause: ensuring Ukraine and Europe win and Russia loses. Allies must be united in recognizing this cause.
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