Biden visit points to Ukraine鈥檚 strength
Young people鈥檚 morale for freedom from Russia is as important as money and munitions.
Young people鈥檚 morale for freedom from Russia is as important as money and munitions.
In a surprise visit to Ukraine on Monday, President Joe Biden promised more support in weapons and money to the country. Yet he also pointed to a core strength that Ukraine already possesses 鈥� and to a big weakness in Russia鈥檚 military. Both may determine the war.
鈥淵oung, talented Russians are fleeing by the tens of thousands, not wanting to come back to Russia. Not just fleeing from the military, fleeing from Russia itself, because they see no future in their country,鈥� Mr. Biden said. An estimated 500,000 or more people have left since the invasion a year ago, a majority of them men of fighting age. In December, the government reported that 10% of information technology workers had left in the past year. On the battlefield, a shortage of soldiers have led to severe losses for Russia.
In Ukraine, by contrast, 鈥渋t鈥檚 astounding who stood up,鈥� said Mr. Biden. 鈥淓verybody 鈥� women, young children 鈥� trying to do something.鈥� Young Ukrainian men are eager to be drafted for military service in defense of democratic values and Ukraine鈥檚 territorial integrity.
Their morale in war zones is also high. 鈥淎s long as Russian soldiers occupy their country, Ukrainians will fight,鈥� writes a former United States ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, in Foreign Affairs. 鈥淭hey will fight with or without new advanced weapons, with or without harsher sanctions, with or without money to help them run their country.鈥�
For young Ukrainians who cannot fight, many are volunteering in various ways to protect their country. One initiative, Repair Together, takes urban kids to liberated towns to build new houses and clear the wreckage left by Russian forces. Others join groups that provide counseling for children traumatized by the war.
Only 40% of Russians age 18 to 45 say Russia was correct in starting the war, according to a Kremlin-controlled poll in November. For people over 45, support for the war stood at 76%. One reason for the large disparity is that young Russians are more eager to find the truth about the war from the internet than from official propaganda on Russian media.
While Russia does have millions of men under 50 with some military experience, another mass conscription like one last November could 鈥渢rigger new waves of panic and mass migration,鈥� according to the Financial Times.
In this war, motives matter as much as munitions and money. 鈥淓ach of us is a fighter,鈥� President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told his people in January. 鈥淓ach of us is a front. Each of us is the basis of the defense.鈥� Ukraine may have fewer young people than its giant neighbor. But it is relying on young people鈥檚 embrace of freedom to win. A visit to Ukraine by an American president only helps reinforce Ukraine鈥檚 hidden strength.