Ukraine has survived the onslaught of its brutal foe. It has humiliated the Russian army and regained much lost territory. These are huge achievements. But the war is not over. On October 10 Russia launched a new phase, with its destruction of civilian infrastructure. Its aim now is to break the will of the Ukrainian people. This, too, must fail.
The principles of postwar European life are at stake: borders may not be changed by force and citizens may not be prevented from choosing those who rule them. In addition, if Russia were to win, it would sit on Europe’s eastern border under the rule of a revanchist tyrant. But, if Ukraine were to win, it would be a potent bulwark against Russia. This war, then, is existential — not just for Ukraine, but also for Europe.
The west needs to ensure that Ukraine survives and then thrives as a prosperous and democratic nation. This is not just a moral necessity, but in its interests, too. There has long been concern about the country’s corruption. But the way Ukraine has mobilised to fight this war shows that this is not the country we now see. A corrupt oligarchic state does not organise and fight as this one has. Ukraine deserves the benefit of the doubt. It has been remade in war. It will surely be remade in peace as well.