La pacificazione non farà altro che alimentare le ambizioni imperiali di Vladimir Putin in Ucraina

SUMMARY OF THE ARTICLE

The article argues that attempts to appease Vladimir Putin will only encourage his aggressive expansionism in Ukraine. It explains that Russia’s invasion is not solely about territory but is rooted in a long history of Russian efforts to eradicate Ukrainian identity and independence.

For centuries, Russian rulers have sought to dominate Ukraine, suppress its language, and erase its culture. This pattern continued under Putin, who first seized Crimea in 2014 and then launched a full-scale invasion in 2022. He even compared his actions to historical Russian conquests, indicating that his ambitions extend far beyond a territorial dispute.

Many people in the West struggle to recognise Russia as an empire, unlike Britain or France, whose colonial histories are well understood. As a result, they sometimes fail to grasp the fundamental aim of Putin’s war: the destruction of Ukraine as a nation. In Russian-occupied areas, Ukrainians face harsh repression, forced Russian citizenship, and an education system designed to erase their history. Ukrainian culture and language are being systematically eliminated, while those who resist are imprisoned or disappear.

The article warns that offering Putin land in exchange for peace is not a viable solution. The occupation itself represents a continuation of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Unless Putin is compelled to abandon his imperial ambitions, the conflict will not end. For Ukraine, this is a battle for survival; for Europe, it is a critical moment that will shape the continent’s future security.