Dwain Northey (Gen X)

Much to Vladimir Putin’s displeasure his, what he thought would be a 7-day, invasion of Ukraine has now passed 12 months. He underestimated his prey, yes, I am calling Ukraine his intended prey. That is a mistake the despots often make presuming that they have the upper hand. After one year Putin has not broken Ukraine’s resolve only strengthened it as well as the unification of the western alliances to stand up to his oppression.

Still the propaganda is out there that Russia is the hero in this scenario, that Putin is only trying to rescue Russian Ukrainians from oppression and the tyranny of Ukrainian President Zelensky. Putin has bought into his own hype that the Ukrainian people feel that they need rescued, well at least that is what he is feeding his citizens that he has effectively cut off from any outside media.

It is well known to the western alliance that since taking power in 2000 that Putin’s aim has been to bring back the glory of the former Soviet states and through fear and intimidation many of the Russian satellite countries have fallen in line. Ukraine had had a Russian puppet as a President, Viktor Yanukovych 2005-2010, that Putin desperately wanted back in the seat of power. When Zelenskiy defeated Poroshenko, who was decidedly more pro Ukraine than Yanukovych, Putin must have thought that the newly elected Actor/Comedian would be a push over. Most certainly the invasion plans were in place with the presumption that Trump would remain in the White House and U.S. assistance would not be provided. Sad to say that President Biden has a considerably different opinion that Donald did and is a far better Politician and Diplomat that 45 could ever hope to have been. With Biden’s leadership NATO as galvanized behind Zelensky without actually entering the war itself.

At this one year mark in is apparent that the U.S. and European countries have to be more involved in defending Ukraine, hopefully not with boots on the ground because we don’t want a Third world war. Biden has already promised tanks and missile systems to Ukraine, my hope is that our Navy can keep ports open for Ukraine without shots being fired.

I support democracy and Ukraine and sincerely hope that this conflict doesn’t last another year.