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The Way They Live, Die, and Fight

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A Ukrainian military helicopter takes off to carry out a mission, June 1, 2023. (Gleb Garanich / Reuters)

Something to be aware of:

Russia is a terror-state. And it ought to be treated as such by democratic governments and the world at large. What Putin’s Kremlin has done in Syria, Ukraine, and elsewhere — ISIS stuff. It is all available to be seen, for those who care to.

• Daily life, and death, for Ukrainians:

• More:

• I think, “What if these were our children? Who would want his children to live this way?”

• “Life goes on”:

• A news bulletin: “The White House on May 31 announced another aid package for Ukraine that includes up to $300 million worth of air-defense systems, ammunition, and other defense equipment.” Go here.

In my view, President Biden must explain, over and over, why aid to Ukraine is right and necessary. Why it’s in the U.S. interest. He and his administration should not assume that the answer is obvious. For one thing, many people drink in anti-Ukraine media hour after hour. This has no small effect.

• A headline: “Blinken warns Ukraine cease-fire now would result in ‘Potemkin peace,’ legitimizing Russian invasion.” (Article here.) Yes. And as Natan Sharansky said to me in a podcast the other week: Trying to appease Putin would be a fool’s errand. If you feed him parts of Ukraine — or parts of Poland or a Baltic state or two — you will not sate him. He will just take this as confirmation that his strategy is working. “The only way to stop a dictator is to resist,” said Sharansky.

Which I think is right.

• This is what Russian state television feeds the people day after day, night after night. We can imagine the effects.

• “Tara Reade, who accused Joe Biden of sexual assault, is seeking refuge in Russia and singing Moscow’s praises.” (Article here.) Shockeroo. Blow me down with a feather.

• In Germany, Olaf Scholz, the chancellor, was shouted at as a “warmonger.” His response was — right on. Good goin’, Scholz.

• Josh Rogin has written a column headed “DeSantis’s Ukraine dodge is the opposite of leadership.” I think this is true. Of all the things to be fuzzy and evasive on — the Ukraine war?

Rogin writes,

DeSantis’s foreign policy record as a congressman is not a reliable indicator of his current views. He supported U.S. military aid to Ukraine as early as 2014 (along with the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement).

I had to smile a little. The Before Times — pre-2016 — are not a “reliable indicator” of any Republican’s views, pretty much: whether that Republican is working in politics or the media.

• On Twitter, someone circulated the following passage:

Well, at least it’s blunt. Personally, I am hoping for more freedom for Russians, not less freedom for Americans. Putin has extensively re-Sovietized Russia — shutting down civil society and independent media.

• This is fascinating. A Russian official is grilled about his daughter, who did a two-week internship in America. “This is my terrible sin,” says her father. “Please forgive me for that.” He goes on to say that he himself studied in France. “And for that, too, I apologize. If it’s a crime, it’s terrible then.”

A glimpse — another one — into Russia today.

• Here is one Ann Arborite — me — who says, “Hurray for the Buckeyes”:

• Hurray for Lithuania, too. The EU is trying to impose Magnitsky sanctions on Russian officials who have persecuted Vladimir Kara-Murza, the political prisoner. So far, the EU has been blocked by Hungary’s Orbán, who has used his veto. But little Lithuania?

• Kevin D. Williamson has filed a report from Kyiv: “The Burial of the Dead: Ukrainians keep up the fight against Russia in the hope that future generations won’t have to.” Splendidly done, Kevin’s report.

• I also recommend an article by Walter Russell Mead: “Putin’s War Is America’s Opportunity.”

• You remember the issue of Russian gas and European will? David Frum does. He has written “Why Putin’s Secret Weapon Failed: Russia’s gambit to deter support for Ukraine by restricting energy supplies flopped — thanks to concerted action by European countries.” Here.

• A report:

U.S. lawmakers and a top U.S. diplomat expressed support on May 31 for the creation of an international tribunal separate from the International Criminal Court (ICC) to try crimes of aggression that have taken place during the war in Ukraine.

That would be something.

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