What the World needs to do with Russia
Many have been shocked and disgusted by the recent Russian propagandistic piece titled “What Russia needs to do with Ukraine”, published by RIA Novosti, a pro-Kremlin media outlet (see the English translation here). But — if read with an eye on strategy, — the piece is a goldmine of intelligence on Russia’s vulnerabilities and how to exploit them.
Inspired by this piece, here’s the strategy for counteroffensive — the ways to bring about Ukraine’s victory in the war against Russia, and — by extension —the victory for the world democracy, humanity, and freedom:
- Arm Ukraine to win militarily
- Support Ukrainian intellectual elites
- Protect Ukrainian teachers and students
- Promote Ukrainian scholarship
- Educate yourself about Ukrainian history
- Read Ukrainian books
- Explore Ukrainian culture
- Listen to Ukrainian music
- Learn the Ukrainian language
1.Arm Ukraine to win militarily
The fight for Ukraine is the fight for the future world order. Sergei Karaganov, the chief architect of the “Putin doctrine”, admits as much in a recent interview (highly revealing, btw, of Kremlin’s thinking). Western scholars also recognize this fight as the ultimate fight between freedom and autocracy.
It is puzzling therefore, that Western allies displayed so much hesitancy towards sending military supplies to Ukraine. The contrast is stark indeed when you juxtapose Kremlin’s openly admitted determination to de-Ukrainize Ukraine (and reshape the world order in the process) with the Western sluggish response to that threat becoming reality. It seems that many in the West do not recognize the existential threat that Russia — in its current form — poses to democracy and freedom.
The Ukrainian military have proven highly effective in using Western-provided arms. In fact, Ukraine’s successful counteroffensive convinced military analysts that Ukraine’s military victory is in fact, highly probable. That should give the West confidence that its military aid, together with sanctioning Russian energy imports to Europe, are best weapons yet to fight the Russian autocratic regime.
At the individual level, supporting Ukrainian army financially through humanitarian or military aid is also an effective way to help. In fact, according to the reports on the ground, in the first month of war, most of the humanitarian supplies, — and a large part of military aid, — were financed through private donations.
2. Support Ukrainian intellectual elites
It is telling that the Kremlin propaganda openly argues for eradication of the Ukrainian elites. The counteroffensive is in plain sight: provide opportunities for Ukrainian state-building elites to engage with the West on an equal footing. Protect Ukrainian intellectuals fleeing the war, and open the doors to Ukrainian-led discussion on how to defeat Russia. The alternative — of having Ukraine’s fate decided without Ukraine’s actual seat at the table — has been proven to backfire in the past (in addition to playing into Russia’s narrative).
3. Protect Ukrainian teachers and students
Interpreting the “What Russia needs to do with Ukraine” piece as an operational manual for Russian forces on the ground, one can notice how according to the manual, de-Ukrainization should involve the physical destruction of Ukrainian teachers and schools.
It is heartwarming that Ukrainian refugees have received a warm welcome in many European countries. But the counteroffensive on this front extends far beyond schoolchildren. It must involve supporting Ukrainian students and scholars, involving Ukrainian academics in the public discourse on the Russia-Ukraine war, and generally building the body of knowledge that would help bring the Ukrainian victory closer.
4. Promote Ukrainian scholarship
The Ukrainian academia has shown incredible resilience in the face of war. Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) not only runs one of the most efficient fundraising campaigns to meet the humanitarian needs of territorial defense forces, but also leads several high-profile initiatives on intellectual stewardship in Economics, Sociology, and STEM subjects:
(i) Weekly KSE public lectures involving world’s leading intellectuals demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine and enhance Ukrainian intellectual sovereignty: https://kse.ua/lektsi-na-pidtrimku-ukrayini/
(ii) Ukraine Global University provides a platform for world’s top Universities to extend support to Ukrainian students and scholars — from scholarships to research grants: https://uglobal.university/
(iii) Ukraine SET University focusing on Computer Science just launched, starting with a short-term intensive course on cybersecurity. According to Tymofiy Mylovanov of KSE, there will also be a four-year undergraduate program on cybersecurity starting this fall, with an AI course following shortly after.
How to practically get involved in these initiatives — as a University or an individual academic? See my explainer here.
5. Educate yourself about Ukrainian history
Humanities have long been underfunded in Western democracies. That is unfortunate, because autocratic regimes like Russia invest heavily in history and culture-driven propaganda. Most notably, Vladimir Putin launched the Russia-Ukraine war with his magnum opus that denies the very existence Ukrainian statehood, including history, culture, and language.
To understand the extent of falsehood in Putin’s highly ideological message, an everyman must be at some basic level at least a competent reader (if not a student) of Ukrainian history. One place to start is read Serhii Plokhy, a Ukrainian Harvard-based History Professor, or check these books that he recommends.
6. Read Ukrainian books
Good literature opens your eyes to nuance within a given historical context. It also helps understand how and why Ukrainians have always been a democratic, freedom-loving nation, despite the geographic proximity to forever autocratic Russian. I must compile my own list when time allows, but for now, here’s one good list by The Economist and one by the Financial Times.
Another issue (that deserves a separate post perhaps) is the support for Ukrainian publishing houses. It’s critical to be buying Ukrainian books right now, when the Ukrainian publishers are running out of funds and struggle to survive. The Ukrainian diaspora should be making a critical investment in Ukraine’s statehood by propping demand for Ukrainian books during the war.
7. Explore Ukrainian culture
It remains underappreciated that Ukraine has been an active participant and shaper of Europe’s history for centuries, not just in the last 41 days of war. That is why Ukrainian cinematographers, artists, writers, composers, and performers deserve center stage right now.
Instead of arguing about the merits or perils of banning Tschaikowsky or Tolstoy, how about inviting Ukrainian artists to exhibit at top galleries, perform at top Opera houses, screening Ukrainian films, and listening to Ukrainian music?
8. Listen to Ukrainian music
Here are some assorted links to the music of war — I trust the rabbit hole of YouTube and Spotify will be your guide thereon!
- Okean Elzy (probably my favorite Ukrainian band) touring the country in times of war
- Khrystyna Soloviy
- Kyiv orchestra
- A cellist in Kharkiv
- Opera singers in Lviv
- Ukrainian anthem by little Amelia in Poland
9. Learn the Ukrainian language
Finally, all of the above is made better if you learn some Ukrainian. The language weapon has been used for too long by the Putin regime to “defend Russian speakers” in Ukraine. Perhaps it’s time to use the language counteroffensive, and unleash an army of Ukrainian speakers in response!