The illegitimate referendum annexing Crimea to Russia has passed. The question is how much more of Ukraine does Putin want? The answer is clear. He wants all of it.

The only reason Putin has not yet invaded the rest of Ukraine is because of the Ukrainian military resistance he met in Crimea. No, the Ukrainian military did not fight; but, they refused to immediately surrender and swear allegiance to Russia. Putin did not anticipate this. Ukrainian troops are still holding out in Crimea.

This has only delayed Putin’s invasion plans. When Russia finally does invade Ukraine, Ukrainians will fight. They will lose because they are sorely outnumbered and do not have significant modern weaponry. But they will fight for it is their country and does not belong to Russia. The world will lose a nation and a people that want only two things: freedom and democracy.

 

Leonid Skorin Jr.

Albert Lea