Donald Trump is obsessed with winning a Nobel Peace Prize and going down in history not simply as the man who did sordid business deals, but as a great peacemaker. Putin wants to be remembered not as a gangster who ruled Russia, a bully and virtual dictator, but as a hero who restored the old Russian empire, someone who will be remembered alongside Peter the Great.
To this end both are prepared to ride roughshod over the rights of other European nationalities and threaten the stability of the continent. Leaving aside their flawed characters it is worth looking at what they are doing through the prism of history.
The United States
Before the Second World War the United States had a clearly stated policy of avoiding foreign wars. Despite being instrumental in setting up the League of Nations to make ‘The World Safe for Democracy’ in 1919, isolationist sentiment at home prevented the United States playing any active part in it. It was only after the attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941 that the United States reversed this policy and began helping Europe through the Lend-Lease scheme which supplied arms and materiel to European states. Following the War, Fear of Soviet expansion led America to help set up NATO but unsuccessful wars abroad in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan led to increasing concern about ‘Forever Wars’ which Trump has tapped into. This has led to a strong reluctance to be involved in foreign adventures, such as military guarantees to Ukraine. American attitudes reflect not just Trump’s vanity, but strong feelings in the country.
Russia
Russia on the other hand was humiliated after the Revolution of 1917, and forced to give away large chunks of the old Tzarist Empire by Germany and the Central Powers in 1918 by the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Russia lost control of Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia and has essentially been trying to get these territories, which were part of the old Tzarist Empire, back ever since. You can understand why Poland now maintains one of the biggest armies in Europe. Ukraine only stayed independent for a few years. Stalin was successful at recovering these states by various means, culminating in this takeover of Eastern Europe after the War. They only became free again with the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991 under Gorbachev. But the example of Finland is perhaps the example that is most pertinent to the current situation in Ukraine.
Finland
Finland was a ‘Grand Duchy’ in the nineteenth century, but effectively part of Russia. It became independent in 1917, but Russia disputed the borders and thought more territory should remain Russian. This dispute led to the invasion of Finland by Stalin in 1939. Despite having 300,000 men compared to the Russians 1 million, the Finns fought back in the ‘Winter War’ of 1939 to 40; their army’s knowledge of winter conditions and guerilla tactics meant they held up the Russian advance. They eventually had to sue for peace and gave up 11% of their territory. Finland was expected not to join foreign alliances, the policy of ‘Finlandization,’ and for a long time would not join NATO for fear of Russian disapproval. Meanwhile it developed a dynamic and successful economy.
Following Russia’s invasion on Ukraine, Finlandization has been abandoned, and Finland has joined NATO, despite having a long land border with Russia. It has an extremely effective army.
Ukraine in NATO
Russia has huffed and puffed, but the Finns have stood firm. The parallels seem to me to be obvious. There is much debate about ‘Coalitions of the Willing’ to guarantee any peace settlement, and should this coalition be allowed to engage in hostilities? To me the answer is obvious. Ukraine should be allowed to join NATO whatever final solution to the war is agreed. They have fought bravely and valiantly and deserve to be part of the alliance of Western democracies, regardless of what Russia or America may say. The Europeans need to stand up to these bullies.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO OUR CROWDFUNDER
HELP US BECOME STRONGER SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DELIVER POWERFUL CITIZEN JOURNALISM!
