On war and conscience

1. Clinton has admitted his mistake in depriving Ukraine of nuclear weapons, which has turned into an incredible tragedy today.

2. Merkel's concessions to Putin, especially her refusal to accept Ukraine into NATO and her cynical games with the Nord Stream pipelines, have made him believe that no one will complicate matters with him for the sake of Ukraine and that he can afford armed aggression. She does not, however, recognize the mistake of her policy, and this does not characterize the Frau in the best light.

However, both statesmen were concerned (and should have been) primarily about their own peoples, not about Ukrainians.

“The 180-degree turn that Zelenskyy made in his policy after February 24, 22 automatically means that the previous course of reconciliation with Putin, slowing down army reforms and rearmament, and sabotaging preparations for a Russian military invasion was deeply flawed.”

3. Zelenskyy has no such excuse. And the 180-degree turn he made in his policy after February 24, 22 automatically means that the previous course – to reconcile with Putin, to slow down army reforms and rearmament, to sabotage preparations for a Russian military invasion – was deeply flawed, if not outright criminal. It resulted in the loss of tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of lives, the occupation (hopefully not forever) of vast territories, and incredible suffering of our people. Not to mention the ruined economy.

Have you heard the president apologize for this? I have not.

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About the author. Karl Volokh, political analyst, blogger.

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