'Never has the world been in greater need of a new internationalism that is not defined militarily (NATO) or just regionally (European Union).'
But at least Europe is paying attention. During the Spanish Civil War, the Republicans faced a hostile Germany and Italy. Other European governments were largely indifferent, having signed a Non-Intervention Agreement in 1936. Thousands of volunteers poured into Spain to support the fragile democratic government, but it was not enough to compensate for the lack of governmental action.
Today, the world is understandably wary of confronting Putin directly. He has his finger on Russia's nuclear button and this week put those forcesHe has already proven to be a risk-taker. No one wants the Ukraine conflict to turn into a world war much less a nuclear conflict. Diplomatic options are still viable, and governments must keep open their channels with Moscow.
Never has the world been in greater need of a new internationalism that is not defined militarily or just regionally . That internationalism has yet to materialize in time to join the chorus of"no pasaran" with the Ukrainians. No International Brigade has yet descended upon the country; no robust peace force is available to block Russia's advance.
It's not just Ukraine, of course. Putin is hardly unique in his murderousness. All governments need to be held to account for their actions both outside and inside their countries. That principle should apply equally to the geopolitically powerful and the less geopolitically powerful , to state actors and non-state actors , to questions of military intervention and to issues like climate change.
But let's not lose sight of the current war. If we are to hold out any hope of such a new internationalism emerging in this era, Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to pass into Kyiv. This can and should be a defining moment for Russia. Just as Afghanistan was the graveyard of the Soviet empire, Ukraine must become the graveyard of Putin's empire.
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