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There’s been butchery in both wars.
In Russia, Putin chose to say to the Russian people, ‘the West is coming after us. They talk of freedom, but they really are fascists, just like Hitler. They are using Ukrainians against us. They aim to dominate Russia, like Hitler tried. I won’t let them. Trust me that I’m doing this for you. Do not let the West poison your minds with the idea of free elections. That is a trick. You have found in me the right leader, and I will work for you until I die. Thank you for your endless love.’
And he massed his troops around Ukraine’s border in the months preceding his invasion in February 2022. He did it gradually, believing that, at any moment, Ukrainians might just wet their pants and kneel before his majesty Putin to lick his boots.
But they didn’t.
Instead, they have defended themselves with enormous courage and still are doing so.
They have had a good deal of help from the West but not enough.
The West has been intimidated by Putin’s threatening that he would use his nuclear weapons against us if the guns we give Ukraine are fired into Russia. And except for some recent modifications the West has made, to allow Ukraine to shoot into Russia within close distance of their border, Russia’s threats keep having their desired effect and so have enjoyed the advantage of firing into Ukraine from wherever they want without fear of retaliation.
And they have caused enormous damage.
Additionally, we…