Putin's current actions now confronts us with "facing a moral choice".

In my blog post (Saturday, 9 August 2014) I wrote that,

"There is an old Hopi saying that "The truth will always float to the surface". And finally, on 31st July 2014, it is emerging that Putin and Merkel [may] have been having secret talks that will concede Crimea to Russia in exchange for ending the war between Russia and Ukraine."

And then on 13 Dec 2014, a few months after Putin illegally invaded and annexed Crimea, I further wrote that,

On July 25, 2014, Alexander Motyl (right) stated that,

"Is Putin evil? His actions certainly are, if by evil we understand behavior that willfully, consciously and purposely destroys human life. Perhaps we can call his actions undeniably evil and Putin himself "evil enough." Evil enough for what? Evil enough for condemnation by people of good will."

He continued that,

"Such countries as France and Germany, which have extensive economic relations with Russia, face a difficult moral choice. They must ask themselves whether Putin is evil or evil enough. If they decide his killing spree in eastern Ukraine is neither evil nor evil enough, they must explain -- to themselves and to the rest of the world -- just why they believe the destruction of Ukrainian, Russian, Malaysian, Dutch and other lives is not a form of evil behavior." (ibid Alexander Motyl) (my emphasis)

It really would seem that neither Michael O'Hanlon and Jeremy Shapiro  (Washington Post : December 7, 2014) would regard Putin's actions over Ukraine as evil. If so, would they regard Hitler as having being an 'evil' man?"

Seven years later, after continuously dangling the 'Sword of Damocles' over the head of Ukraine,  Putin now stands on the verge of releasing the full might of his army against Ukraine.

As reported by Alberto Nardelli and Jennifer Jacobs,

"The U.S. has shared intelligence including maps with European allies that shows a buildup of Russian troops and artillery to prepare for a rapid, large-scale push into Ukraine from multiple locations if President Vladimir Putin decided to invade, according to people familiar with the conversations.
...
The information lays out a scenario where troops would cross into Ukraine from Crimea, the Russian border and via Belarus, with about 100 battalion tactical groups -- potentially around 100,000 soldiers -- deployed for what the people described as an operation in rough terrain and freezing conditions, covering extensive territory and prepared for a potentially prolonged occupation." (Bloomberg : 21 Nov 2021) (my emphasis)

                                              Bloomberg 21 Nov 2021                                                           

  

As also reported by Howard Altman,

"Russia has more than 92,000 troops amassed around Ukraine’s borders and is preparing for an attack by the end of January or beginning of February, the head of Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency told Military Times.

Such an attack would likely involve airstrikes, artillery and armor attacks followed by airborne assaults in the east, amphibious assaults in Odessa and Mariupul and a smaller incursion through neighboring Belarus, Ukraine Brig. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov (right) told Military Times Saturday morning in an exclusive interview." (Military Times : 20 November 2021) (my emphasis)

This time, however, unlike when Putin's 'little green men' invaded and illegally occupied (to this day!) Ukraine's Crimea, Ukraine is battle-prepared for Putin's impending invasion.

And now Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, is not standing alone against Putin.

As reported by Natasha Bertrand, Jim Sciutto and Katie Bo Lillis,

The Biden administration is weighing sending military advisers and new equipment including weaponry to Ukraine as Russia builds up forces near the border and US officials prepare allies for the possibility of another Russian invasion, multiple sources familiar with the deliberations tell CNN.

The discussions about the proposed lethal aid package are happening as Ukraine has begun to warn publicly that an invasion could happen as soon as January. The package could include new Javelin anti-tank and anti-armor missiles as well as mortars, the sources said." (CNN : 23 November 2021) (my emphasis) (video below)

As also reported by Chris Jewers,

"The UK has signed a deal to supply warships and missiles to Ukraine as 90,000 Russian troops mass on the country's border amid rising tensions in the region. 

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace signed a treaty with Ukraine last week, under which the country's government can access financing for contracts with UK suppliers to help beef up its naval capabilities. 

It is expected to help deliver two mine counter-measures vessels (MCMV), the joint production of eight missile ships, the delivery of and retrofit of weapons systems to existing vessels, and the joint production of a frigate and consultancy and technical support for the building of naval infrastructure including the delivery of equipment." (Mail Online : 18 November 2021) (my emphasis)

Putin is now angrily and dangerously pacing around in his "covid-secured bunker".

The critical question now is whether his stalwart 'siloviki' will also "egg him on" to invade Ukraine or whether they, beholden as they are to Putin, will try to reign him in.

And just how far is the Russian people, suffering as they are under the covid-19 pandemic and increasingly dire economic straits, willing to throw their weight behind Putin in setting off an all-out war with Ukraine?

As Alexander Motyl pointed out in 2014, when Putin illegally invaded and annexed Ukraine's Crimea,  Putin's current actions now also confronts us with "facing a moral choice".

(to be continued)