On ultimate responsibility

That's why Russia is trying so hard to foster them in Ukraine and among its partners. It has considerable resources to do so.

Ukraine, on the other hand, has enough resources and capabilities to organize a saving miracle and to attract the support of strong allies.

Ukraine has only one way to victory: to fight, to surprise others, to arouse admiration, and against this background, to get resources to fight and put pressure on its enemy. In fact, this is the key to victory over a great enemy - to hold out a day longer.

The world media in 2013 and January 2014 did not give Maidan a chance; they were surprised.

Since February 2014, Russia has been generously paying for the campaign about the alleged “country 404” and has been put to shame.

Leading up to February 24, 2022, the world media had already written Ukraine off—but they were mistaken.

All of these cases are united by the fact that Ukrainians did not act as expected. They did something that was considered impossible under the usual scenario.

After all, this is one of the definitions of a miracle.

Protesters and opposition on the Maidan, activists and the government of the day in 2014, the army, society and most politicians in 2022 did something that no one - and especially Russia - expected.

Everyone played their part in the miracles of 2013-14, 2014-19, and 2022-23. But this is the fate of the smaller, fighting the bigger: to survive in spite of, not thanks to.

To get resources from nowhere. To compete for the sympathy of those who can help.

As one Western politician cynically but accurately described it, “If David beats Goliath, it's a story for the ages. If it's the other way around, it's the boring prose of life.”

Today, the excitement of the miracle of 2022 has already faded, and the inflated expectations for 2023 are said to have failed to materialize.

The Kursk operation of 2024 was claimed to be a “miracle”, but it seems to have failed to achieve its goal.

We rightly think that Ukraine's very survival, the disruption of Russian plans, the retreat of Russians in the Black Sea, and much more are admirable achievements. And they are. However, more is needed for the result, no matter how unfair it may seem to us (Ukrainians - ed.).

How can Russia be defeated?

By destroying its military, depleting its economy, and discouraging its rulers and subjects from fighting.

This means long-range weapons, unmanned platforms, ammunition, expanded aid, and increased sanctions pressure.

To do this, Ukraine must effectively organize its own resources and communicate its needs to its partners. Not to weaken, but to strengthen assistance.

And this should be the miracle now, because the trends around look unfavorable. But when have they ever been favorable for Ukraine?

The only thing is that what the government is doing now is moving us away from the miracle. Because attacks on the military, on the opposition, on the defense, on volunteers, on business are precisely the destruction of the foundations on which a miracle can grow.

Almost all active forces in the country have already created their part of the miracle. This helped to survive. But the rest is up to the authorities. It is up to them to organize the process for the whole country.

So far, they have only managed to destroy the processes organized by others. And frantically search for and appoint the guilty. Because that's what they learned: to ridicule and devalue.

However, the government would need to do something else. To understand the reality and agree to the government - not of unity, but of salvation. And the government's task would be to bring together the elements already created by the military, negotiators, philanthropists, volunteers, engineers, business, manufacturers...

A government of national salvation is a prerequisite for Ukraine's victory. Without it, it is impossible to gather all the resources and use them properly.

This would be another miracle that would attract the world. And this is the ultimate responsibility of the current government. At least to compensate for previous failures.

Because it is not time to “run away,” but time to let those who are capable do it.

But for now, we have to use the subjunctive mood. Because the authorities are only interested in maintaining their positions, influence and money...

Source

About the author. Rostyslav Pavlenko is a Ukrainian politician, political scientist, political strategist, and teacher. Member of the Ukrainian Parliament of the IX convocation.

The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.