War in Ukraine: Putin Is to Blame
This February, it has been ten years since Russia illegally annexed Crimea. Then followed a war in eastern Ukraine that cost many lives. And on 24 February, two years have passed since the Russian aggression entered a new phase.
The massive attack on Ukraine was brutal and reminiscence scenes Europe had not seen since World War II. War is still ongoing in full force. There is one person who can stop this at any time – and it is he who started it all. President Putin bears the full responsibility.
President Putin has led his country into a disaster. He has not achieved his original objectives of occupying Ukraine, replacing a democratically elected Ukrainian leadership and preventing an expansion of NATO. On the contrary, the war has isolated Russia further. The Ukrainian people see absolutely no future with Russia, and NATO is stronger and more united than ever.
The war is extremely costly to Russia. Even if Russian forces win some battles, the country will lose the war. The Russian losses in personnel and materiel are immense. But in a closed and authoritarian society, the truth does not come out. We have seen it before. Authoritarian regimes can have some military success. However, at a certain time, they reach a point where the regimes topple. When that happens, the consequences are enormous and unpredictable. Russia is not close to such a tipping-point yet, but they are closer now than before.
Ten years after the war started, more than 50 countries stand together in providing military support to Ukraine. A support that must and will continue. Norway is one of the countries that has committed its support until 2028. We will support with what Ukraine needs, and right now it is military support that is the most important. Ukraine needs weapons, ammunition, training and education of soldiers and much more to defend their own country and people.
The military support to Ukraine from Norway is led by the Norwegian Armed Forces. The operation is called Ellisiv. Ellisiv was Norway’s last Viking queen, born princess of the Kievan Rus' and married to Harald Hardrada. The name symbolises the historical connection between Norway, Kyiv, and Ukraine. Ellisiv is a large operation and many of our troops are involved in contributing to delivering donations and training. The feedback I get from personnel from the Norwegian Armed Forces is that contributing to supporting Ukraine is an extremely meaningful and important task.
"Putin is to blame, and sooner or later he will lose."
General Eirik Kristoffersen
The support helps Ukraine to maintain their defensive battle but the support also has a long-term perspective. Ukraine must defend itself today and be able to defend itself in the future. The Ukrainian’s will to defend their country is impressive, and we must contribute to maintaining and developing the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ capabilities. I have met many of our Ukrainian sisters and brothers. Respect, responsibility and courage are values we in the Norwegian Armed Forces value highly. Our Ukrainian colleagues live them out every day at the front.
NATO countries, including Norway, strengthen their militaries. We invest more – both to support Ukraine and to strengthen our own armed forces. There is no contradiction between supporting Ukraine and strengthening our own military. On the contrary, these two efforts are inseparably linked. Ukraine is fighting our fight for freedom, democracy and a rules-based world order, where borders and freedom must be respected. Norway strengthens our military to ensure that we never again experience 9 April 1940, when Nazi Germany invaded Norway. No country should have to experience what Ukraine did ten years ago. Ukraine threatened no one. Norway and NATO do not threaten Russia either. But with President Putin in power, we do not know what Russia's next moves will be.
It is always difficult to predict the dynamics of war. In hindsight, we should have done much more to support and integrate Ukraine after 2014. Then maybe the threshold for Russia would have been too high to attack again in February 2022. What is important is that we must continue to stand together, strengthen our militaries, strengthen our cohesion with allies and friends, and continue to support Ukraine. The responsibility for ending this war lies with the one who started it. President Putin must understand that there is no option for him, Russia or the Russian people to continue this senseless Russian warfare.
Putin is to blame, and sooner or later he will lose.
