How Ukraine鈥檚 strength has uplifted Europe
Four years of Russian aggression have shown that the EU鈥檚 values are not abstract but are tangible assets for aiding Ukraine and driving the bloc鈥檚 unity.
Four years of Russian aggression have shown that the EU鈥檚 values are not abstract but are tangible assets for aiding Ukraine and driving the bloc鈥檚 unity.
Ukraine鈥檚 ability to fend off more than four years of relentless military assaults by Russia has forged a resolute unity and focus among its people. At the same time, its example in surviving the crucible of war has helped steel the geopolitical resolve of the European Union and led the 27-nation bloc to reassert its founding values.
The war has reminded Europeans 鈥渙f what unites them,鈥� stated Pawel Zerka of the European Council on Foreign Relations. 鈥淭he values of democracy, rule of law, human rights, civil society, and freedom went from abstract terms to something very tangible,鈥� he wrote soon after the war began in 2022.
Since the fourth anniversary on Feb. 24, Europe鈥檚 declarations of support for Ukraine 鈥� and for European unity 鈥� have grown even stronger. 鈥淭here is no moral ambiguity,鈥� France鈥檚 EU commissioner wrote in Le Monde. Aiding Ukraine is both 鈥渁n act of solidarity鈥� and 鈥渁n investment in building a stronger, safer and more united Europe.鈥�
One big divide in Europe might be on the mend. Nearly a decade after Brexit, when the United Kingdom left the EU, it has moved closer to the bloc on migration, trade, and defense. 鈥淚t is time to reset the [EU-U.K.] partnership ... to respond to today鈥檚 realities,鈥� European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said in a speech.
Russia鈥檚 war in Ukraine 鈥渨as meant to weaken our alliance,鈥� she observed. Instead, she pointed out, Europe鈥檚 鈥渄efense industry has been revitalized鈥� and its bureaucracy 鈥渕ade faster,鈥� and it has 鈥渕obilized some 鈧�90 billion [$104 billion] in support for Ukraine.鈥�
In an interesting twist, the narrative is no longer just about the West coming to Ukraine鈥檚 aid. 鈥淓uropean nations are snapping up Ukrainian front-line know-how [to] ... rewire themselves for a transformed battlefield,鈥� stated The Wall Street Journal. The United States, too, is weighing purchases of Ukrainian-made interceptors to use against Iranian drones.
Perhaps the EU鈥檚 boldest move has been to fast-track Ukraine for membership in the bloc, which is seen as a prelude to possibly giving security guarantees against Russian aggression. While some EU members worry about Ukraine as an economic partner, they see the value of enlarging the EU tent. The situation recalls the words of Britain鈥檚 legendary World War II leader, Winston Churchill, from 80 years ago.
In a March 5, 1946, speech in Missouri, Mr. Churchill warned about the 鈥渋ron curtain鈥� that Soviet Russia, as he called it, was drawing across Eastern Europe. 鈥淭he safety of the world requires a new unity in Europe,鈥� he said that day.
Later that same year, he went further: The task is 鈥渢o recreate the European family,鈥� he said, 鈥渢o provide it with a structure under which it can dwell in peace, safety and freedom. We must build a kind of United States of Europe.鈥� Little did he realize how a former Soviet republic, Ukraine, would someday nudge the continent to fortify its safety and freedom.