So-called pacifists and secret admirers of Putin

Written by Spyros Dimitrilis

I have been following with particular interest the various calls made by local analysts for a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine, on and off quotes. This advice, in a strange way, is mainly directed at the defender, that is, at Ukraine and its leader Zelensky. At the same time, they criticize the West in every possible way because of the position it has taken since the first day of Putin’s attack on Ukraine: defending the defending state in the name of Western principles and values. Defending the “free world” from the clutches of totalitarianism and tyranny, through the fundamental abolition of basic democratic freedoms and procedures. In Putin’s Russia, the institutional counterweight to his absolute power is missing, his political opponents are endangered species, and his power is perpetuated through democratic trappings, such as presidential elections and changing the Russian constitution when it suits him. This model generates aggression and always results in violence in the name of the absolute authority of the “leader.” In the end, of course, in the end, light defeats darkness. This has been done repeatedly in history. It will happen now. Even if it takes a few more years of good versus evil.

Talking to the rapist

Many, as we said, are calling for negotiations with the aim of peace. In other words, they are asking Ukraine to sit at the table with its would-be rapist. Negotiating the space that Russia seized by causing a bloodbath will be ceded. To negotiate what her future path would be with those who divided her. Signing agreements with those who do not retain their signatures. It has invaded Georgia’s Crimean peninsula, and is now issuing threats to its various neighbours.

Let’s see what can be paralleled by the “peace advocates” calls for negotiation and a peace agreement. It is equivalent to the West’s position on the aggression launched by Nazi Germany until September 1939. Until that time, they were ceding territory to Hitler without even offering any military resistance. In 1936, it militarily occupied the demilitarized Ruhr Valley. He then proceeded to bloodlessly invade and annex Austria. In 1938 he demanded and conducted “negotiations” over the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia. The above-mentioned position of shame for the West has gone down in history as “appeasement.” Then today’s “pacifists” would be with the appeasers. With the absurdity and cowardice of history. Give Hitler to have peace.

Greece is like Ukraine

Their position, especially for a country like Greece, which has a very bad neighbour, is truly inexplicable and needs analysis, perhaps even psychological. Let’s make a business case. Turkey already claims that Greece, by militarizing the Aegean islands, is violating the Treaties of Lausanne and Paris, which, according to Turkish theories, means that Greek sovereignty over them is also in question. Greece militarized the islands after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and Turkey’s creation of the so-called Aegean Army, a large offensive amphibious force. It was a clear, intuitive and legitimate defensive step on the part of Greece against Turkish aggression. Let us remember that the “Patriots” military junta of the extreme Greek right, in the name of securing peace with the Turks, withdrew the Greek contingent from Cyprus in December 1967. But peace on the island was temporary. Suppose Türkiye invaded and partially succeeded in occupying Greek islands. How is this different from Russian aggression in Ukraine? What will Putin’s secret “peaceful” admirers say today to foreign analysts and officials who will demand that Greece sit at the negotiating table with the Turkish invader to negotiate, in the name of ending the war, how many islands it will annex and which ones? He gives up.

Right

History has taught us that peace is not sustainable when it is based on concessions to the aggressor. The shepherd does not secure his flock if he gives some of the sheep to the wolf. The wolf will return with a greater appetite for blood. He has to keep the wolves away with a few sheepdogs and, if necessary, exterminate them. The generalized peace that Europe has enjoyed over the past eighty years – with some regional exceptions that confirm this rule – has been precisely the result of the complete victory of the light of the West over the darkness of fascist tyranny. The West unleashed and completely annihilated evil. She did not make the mistake of negotiating with him. Even if the West surrenders now and accepts the distortion of Ukraine, peace will not be guaranteed. The countdown to Russia’s next offensive move west will begin. The only viable way to ensure peace is for the right side to win. This is Ukraine and the West.

Note: So-called pacifists and secret admirers of Putin claim that Russia was provoked into invading Ukraine because Kiev violated previous treaties by wanting to join NATO. This alleged violation was the result of fear of what eventually happened: a Russian invasion. It happened after Putin invaded his neighbors without provocation. Peace advocates and Putin admirers say Russia does not want NATO weapons so close. However, NATO weapons have become closer to it since 2004. The borders of Latvia, which has already become a member of NATO, are 788 kilometers from Moscow. The borders of Ukraine from Moscow are further. Its distance is 841 kilometers in a straight line. So this argument does not hold up. They are introductions to sin. Russia is not in danger from NATO weapons. Türkiye is also not in danger from Greek weapons located on the islands. NATO weapons are there to protect Europe from Putin. Like Greek weapons to protect our islands from Türkiye.