Putin’s war is an attack on our freedom

War is raging in Europe – less than a two-hour flight from Berlin. The Russian President’s declaration of war is not only aimed at Ukraine. The bombs and rockets shake our understanding of politics, our belief that in the 1920s other forms of conflict resolution than war must be possible. The bombs and rockets attack the rules-based world order. Vladimir Putin’s attack is not only a blatant breach of international law, it is an attack on our freedom.

The experienced Kremlin gentleman, who has ruled Russia for more than 20 years, will know what he is doing not only to the West, but also to his own country. Putin himself and his entire ruling elite will henceforth enjoy pariah status in the international community.

There will be tough sanctions that will hit the substance of the country, which is poor despite its gigantic wealth in raw materials. Putin will be the conqueror of a country that, even after a possible annexation, will resist him greatly and be hostile to Moscow.

What drives this man? Is what he is doing madness or still political calculation?

So far, Putin has kept the conflict below the threshold of clearly military action. One could still hope that he is capable of assessing the political risks of an open war, that he is not a gambler. But that was yesterday.

So the United States was right after all in warning that the Russian president meant business. The sanctions decided by Europe and the USA were not enough to deter them.

This step changes everything

Even the demonstrative unity of the West, which Putin has always tried to split, did not stop him from taking this momentous step. Military force as a continuation of politics is again a conceivable means in Europe: This is a turning point.

It is part of the essence of an autocrat that he is willing to make great sacrifices in order to achieve supposedly great things. The first victims of his policies are the people of Ukraine, who now have to fear for their lives and livelihoods. You now have all the support of the West. Whether this also includes military aid – that is the difficult question that needs to be clarified.

More on the Ukraine crisis:

The supposedly big thing that Putin is aiming for is the resurrection of a Russian empire – with zones of influence far into Europe. Putin wants to be the ruler of a superpower that is also perceived as such. He wants to revise the “greatest catastrophe of the 20th century”, the fall of the Soviet Union.

Yes, he is feared now, simply because of his ruthlessness and his undoubtedly great military power. Respect and esteem, however, will not be met with him. He could have achieved this if he had given his country, which is so rich in cultural and scientific traditions, prospects for the future during the 20 years of his reign.

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