Three articles related to the Russia-Ukraine War caught my attention Friday.
The first, at NBC News, argues that Patriot missile batteries are not enough to defend Ukraine. The article urges the U.S. to provide Gray Eagle drones to Ukraine to enable attacks deep into the interior of Russia, including most especially bases where strategic bombers are located. The subtitle to this article is especially provocative: “Western limitations on providing Kyiv with long-distance offensive capabilities are becoming nonsensical.”
Did you get that? It’s “nonsensical” to be concerned about providing offensive weaponry that would exert more escalatory pressure on this war.
The second article, also at NBC News, suggests that Ukraine in the near future may possess the military wherewithal to take Crimea from Russia. Some concern was expressed that Putin could respond with nuclear weapons if Russia’s hold on Crimea was threatened.
The third article from the British Guardian addresses recent Russian attacks on Kharkiv, as follows: “Kharkiv left without power, heating and water as Russian attack causes ‘colossal’ damage, says mayor. Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, is without power, heating and water after Russian missile strikes on Friday morning caused ‘colossal’ damage to infrastructure, its mayor Ihor Terekhov said.”
What this all adds up to is a war that is growing increasingly dangerous and destructive not just for Ukraine and Russia but possibly for Europe and indeed the world.
Meanwhile, a friend sent me this article from Vox about a recent party in Washington D.C. focused on Ukraine and the war. The party’s invitations were sponsored by major U.S. weapons contractors, in this case Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and Lockheed Martin.
Strangely, I heartily approve of this invitation because the sponsors are, for once, obvious. Can’t say that I blame the corporations: they know a great opportunity when they see it.
What Russia and Ukraine need are not more pressures to escalate but more reasons to talk, to negotiate, to put an end to this war before it truly runs out of control.
Unfortunately, many people in the U.S. see more weaponry as the answer. One thing is certain: you won’t get an argument on that from those “supporters” listed on the invitation above.
Can we not, as Vera Brittain argued, find the courage to end these cycles of vengeance and violence? We must learn to say “no” to killing. “No” to war. In that spirit, I signed a declaration calling for a Christmas truce in Ukraine. Here’s an article from Codepink on the effort.
Here’s hoping for a Christmas truce that gains traction.
William J. Astore is a retired lieutenant colonel (USAF). He taught history for fifteen years at military and civilian schools. He writes at Bracing Views.
1000 FAITH LEADERS CALL FOR A CHRISTMAS TRUCE IN UKRAINE: Inspired by the miraculous Christmas truce of 1914, leaders petition the Biden administration to push for negotiations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ariel Gold | ariel@forusa.org | 510 599 5330
Bill McGarvey | bill@mcg-media.com | 201-725-4202123
A diverse and quickly growing coalition of nearly 1000 faith leaders in the United States–representing a massive number of believers from every major tradition–have signed onto a Christmas Truce
statement demanding a temporary ceasefire in the War in Ukraine.
Spiritual leaders from across the spectrum of faith communities and a diversity of ideological perspectives have become signatories in recognition of the fact that the way out of the war in Ukraine will not be a military solution. They have signed on with the belief that a temporary ceasefire offers an opportunity for moral clarity that could be the first step toward a negotiated peace.
Signers include Bishop William J. Barber II, president of Repairers of the Breach; Dr. Cornel West, Union Theological Seminary; Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rainbow Push Coalition; Rev. Liz Theoharis,
Director of the Kairos Center for Religion; Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Jewish Renewal movement; Mary Novak, Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice; Thay Phap An, the
Plum Village Buddhist community; Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary Emeritus, Reformed Church in America; Rev. Jim Wallace, Georgetown Center on Faith and Justice; (a full list is available at forusa.org/Ukraine.
Full Press Release at https://forusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Christmas-Truce-in-Ukraine.PR_.12.13.pdf
Why would you talk with someone who has invaded your land, and killed your people? Specially when you are pushing him out? I wish the war would stop, but stopping the war and cementing Russian gains isn’t really going to be a good long term solution.
Because it will save a lot of lives?
Ukraine will not be able to win this war outright, neither will Russia – the sooner both sides get that and start talking without ‘Friends’ interfering the sooner this stupidity can be stopped.
Everyone who thinks that Russia just invaded Ukraine for no reason has paid no attention for the last 14 years of history. The US sponsored coup in 2104 installed a rabidly anti-Russian government in Kiev and this set off an 8 year civil war with western Ukraine being the aggressor. Russia stepped in to stop the slaughter of Russian speaking people in the eastern Ukraine.