Neglect of responsibility and the Ukraine tragedy

In a striking speech this February at the 61st Munich Security Conference, United States Vice President J.D. Vance held a mirror to European elites. Rather than focus on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he highlighted Europe’s democratic value deficits, which leave the continent vulnerable.

The vice president asserted that European citizens are often silenced when they express non-conformist views. Their opinions are dismissed as “extremist” or based on “fake news.” European leaders ignore voter concerns and security as they form immigration policies. When Mr. Vance stated, “If you are afraid of your citizens, there is nothing America can do for you,” he was apparently referring to the rising political “firewalls” that exclude successful right-wing parties from governance.

He accurately noted that the current climate in Europe resembles paranoid hysteria regarding right-wing electoral successes. Citizens should not be marginalized for differing opinions. The American vice president also mentioned discrimination based on faith and criticized Europeans for endlessly discussing defense improvements instead of acting sufficiently on urgent security needs.

Political expediency has weakened Europe, inviting adversaries.

 

His speech was a deserved rebuke to the ruling establishment of Europe. This elite has often eagerly pointed the finger at leaders in both the U.S. and other parts of the world. Now, Vice President Vance flipped the narrative on European arrogance. In today’s Europe, legitimate voter choice is suppressed under the guise of “defending democracy.” This hypocrisy complicates Europe’s ability to uphold democratic values against external threats when its leaders fail to honor them domestically.

Confronting hard realities

The absence of true statesmanship and respect for long-established values has led to a collapse of European deterrence and defenses over recent decades. Political expediency has weakened Europe, inviting adversaries.

However, Mr. Vance’s speech was not solely critical. He addressed potential peace talks with Russia, making clear that the negotiation table will have no place for Europeans, as they need first to address the fundamentals mentioned earlier. This was the response to European foreign ministers who sought a role in the talks just one day earlier.

Negotiations are advancing rapidly. On February 12, President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, agreeing in principle to initiate talks and establish a demarcation line. The White House aims to avoid future American involvement in Ukraine’s defense, which aligns with Moscow’s demand to exclude NATO membership for Ukraine. The U.S. seeks access to Ukraine’s raw materials during reconstruction efforts.

Sadly, this amounts to a betrayal of Ukraine, but it is only a consequence of the state of affairs that has been ongoing since the full-scale conflict began in February 2022. The late and insufficient support from both European nations and the U.S., particularly regarding modern offensive weapons, hindered Ukraine’s military success. Today, without Western troops there – a notion rejected on both sides of the Atlantic – repelling Russia’s endless offensives and turning the war in Ukraine’s favor seems unattainable. The previous administration of President Joe Biden – nominally pro-Ukrainian – displayed a measure of fatigue about Ukraine’s drama toward its term’s end.

We find ourselves at this unfortunate juncture due to a lack of responsibility and courage among leaders in Europe and the U.S., which is deeply regrettable and shameful.

President Trump’s non-NATO stipulation places the responsibility for defending Ukraine squarely on European countries, which is logical. He has already called for the deployment of European troops in Ukraine – a request with merit. Such a move would compel European capitals to enhance their military capabilities, regardless of whether peace is achieved. A new Russian invasion would escalate into war with Germany, France and other allies. That could lead Europe (the continent, not the European Union) toward a decentralized but effective collaboration in defense and security policy.

For these reasons and more, Europe’s political leaders and voters would do well to reflect more deeply on Vice President Vance’s message, even if it seems a bit undiplomatic at times.

This comment was originally published here: https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/vance-europe-democracy-ukraine/