The day a KGB-bred lunatic blew up Europe

Dead children, teenage prisoners, torn families, blood, and pain. This is what Europe woke up to on Thursday when the madman in Kremlin gave the order for war. Ukraine was doomed months before; it was only a matter of time. The US has constantly been reporting, with precise information, about how Russia is moving its troops. As great as the performance in gathering intelligence was, however, so profound was the disappointment at the inability of the Western politicians to make use of it.

• I can only empathize with the Ukrainian tragedy. Like most Romanians, I have horror stories in my family about Russian soldiers in World War II. I carry forever my grandmother’s stories about the girls in the village, hiding in the woods and in the reeds in the pond for fear of rape and murder by the Russians. Then, under communism, we all experienced the blessings of Russia firsthand. A country whose leaders, with a few exceptions, posed a constant threat to other countries in the region.

On the surface, there are many problems between Romania and Ukraine, otherwise trivial in this corner of the world. A disputed border, minorities issues, a complicated history. But all these have not prevented Romania from adopting an exemplary attitude towards Ukraine over the past eight years, since the illegal annexation of Crimea. A sober, decent, supportive attitude, with Romania, constantly advocating Ukraine’s cause in the EU and at NATO. Gradually, this attitude has been transferred to the majority of the population. This is how the overwhelming majority of Romanians ended up on Ukraine’s side in this war.

Especially since we Romanians now feel safe. It is the security shelter given by NATO, the US, and the EU, in the most fortunate conjuncture in Romania’s recent history. We see what it means for a neighboring country, double in size, to not be under this protective dome… 24 hours are enough to turn it into chaos, and another 96 hours – as Newsweeek writes – to become a Russian lead.

Weak and corrupt as they have been since 1990, Romanian politicians have unanimously taken the decision to join these political blocs and put the country at shelter from Putin’s desires. And they have held on to them tooth and nail, even though Moscow’s mermaid calls have lured many of them in. Somehow, sometimes with its foot on the cliff’s edge, Romania has managed to remain alongside the democratic nations. And that allows us to be at peace, even when the front line is only 150 km from our border.

On the other hand, I see the tragedy of Ukraine and I also see the West’s inability to take decisive action against Russia. It is unlikely that anything will stop Putin from his march towards his empire dream – actually the necessity of the siloviki (apparatus of force) to preserve their privileges, power, and money. But there were enough ways for Western leaders – warned long in advance by the intelligence services and diplomats – to show the world that they care about values and principles.

The sanctions announced on Monday and Tuesday by the UK, US and EU after Putin recognized Donbas independence are weak. A fleabite on the neck of the bear that is now choking Ukraine. The real weapons have been kept in the rack, to the amazement of the whole world, although the US itself has announced precisely when the military invasion will begin. Why, for God’s sake, would you not take the tough decisions and announce them publicly BEFORE the invasion, on Monday or Tuesday, after Putin has reclaimed Donabs independence, in the hope that you can at least delay it?

Why, as in the case of Germany, would you so stubbornly refuse to sell Ukraine defensive weapons that would buy them perhaps a few more days of resistance against the fearsome Red Army? No one understands.

The harsh sanctions are clear: put Putin himself and all members of the political, military and economic elite on the sanctions list, confiscate (not freeze) all their assets abroad, impose sanctions on Russian companies, disconnect banks from the SWIFT system, expel all Russian citizens from the West, stop the delivery of high-precision technology and software, supply weapons to Ukraine.

Perhaps some of these we will see in the hours and days to come, unless Germany, Italy, Hungary or Cyprus derail the decision of the EU, as CNN reports. But it’s already too late. Ukraine has fallen, it cannot be saved. The EU will de facto border Russia, and that’s just the first step.

This European Union, a formidable political construct, the best solution to prevent war in Europe, has somehow diluted its power and responsiveness. This Union, which is Romania’s natural home and could also have been Ukraine’s home, is failing to become a global political player. Somehow, every time it is put to the test, this admirable economy fails politically.

That’s what Putin sensed, that’s where he placed his bets and won (almost). He won a big battle for himself. But let’s see, in the end, how high the external and internal price will be for this mediocre former spy turned perfect assassin of the democratic aspirations of Ukrainians, but also of ordinary Russians.

And, who knows: maybe the West’s strategy will have turned out to be the right one. Perhaps Western leaders have data that Russia’s absolutist power, corrupt but absolute, will quickly erode and Putin’s construct will collapse quicker than expected. I would be glad if that were so. For now, however, all we see is an evil empire in full expansion. And we also know that in a week’s time, Romania will border Russia.

Translated from Romanian by Ovidiu Harfas. Original article