Ukraine Has Shown the World Russia’s Weakness—Now It’s Time to Exploit It

 

Ukraine has single-handedly exposed Russia as a fragile superpower, and it’s time for the West to finish what Ukraine has started—by breaking Putin’s empire for good. It is no secret that the only reason Putin’s regime still stands is because the West hasn’t unleashed its full might. So if the West doesn’t capitalize on Ukraine’s battlefield victories now, they’ll be inviting the next dictator to take the world hostage.

In the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, Vladimir Putin’s grand posturing on the global stage has become little more than a circus act—a loud show of force with hollow results. The world has watched as the illusion of Russian might crumbled in the face of Ukrainian resilience. If there was ever a moment for the United States and the West to strike a decisive blow against Russian aggression, this is it. Ukraine has handed them the opportunity on a silver platter. Failing to seize this chance might leave the West powerless to ever challenge Putin’s belligerence again.

For years, Putin has projected an image of Russia as an untouchable global power, capable of standing toe-to-toe with NATO and the United States. The 2014 annexation of Crimea and interference in U.S. elections seemed to bolster his claims of Russian influence. But the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 peeled back the curtain on Putin’s regime, revealing a country ill-prepared for a protracted war and a military that is more show than substance. Russia has found itself bogged down in a conflict it expected to win within days, unable to crush a nation that was considered a far weaker adversary.

Ukraine, a country with significantly fewer resources and military power, has fought back with surprising tenacity, proving that Russia's bark is far worse than its bite. With the support of American and Western military aid, Ukraine has exposed Russia’s vulnerabilities. Russia’s military, once feared for its sheer size, has been outsmarted and outmaneuvered by Ukrainian forces equipped with Western technology. Javelin anti-tank missiles, HIMARS, and other Western-supplied weapons have decimated Russian convoys and logistics lines, leaving the Kremlin scrambling to maintain even a semblance of control in occupied regions. Ukraine’s success on the battlefield has done more than just repel Russian advances—it has shattered the myth of Russian invincibility.

This is a pivotal moment in history. America and the West have a unique chance to deal a final, crushing blow to Putin’s regime. If they choose not to, the consequences could be dire. The last time the world hesitated in the face of Russian aggression, we ended up with a frozen conflict in Crimea and an emboldened Putin. If the West allows Putin to recover from this self-inflicted debacle in Ukraine, they risk facing a reenergized Russian autocrat who will be more dangerous and unpredictable than ever. And next time, the stakes might be even higher.

The Ukrainian conflict has also exposed just how isolated Russia has become on the world stage. European nations, once reliant on Russian oil and gas, have taken drastic steps to reduce their dependence. Germany, historically reluctant to engage in military matters, has increased defense spending and sent aid to Ukraine, signaling a shift in its post-World War II policy of military restraint. The European Union has implemented sweeping sanctions that have crippled Russia’s economy, and even traditionally neutral countries like Finland and Sweden have applied for NATO membership in response to Russia’s aggression.

Despite this, there remains a real danger that the West might waver at this crucial juncture. Some voices, especially within Europe, are calling for a diplomatic solution, urging Ukraine to negotiate with Putin to end the bloodshed. But any notion of negotiating with Putin is folly. He has shown time and again that he cannot be trusted to uphold any agreements. The Minsk agreements of 2015, which were supposed to bring peace to eastern Ukraine, were violated almost immediately by Russia. To sit down with Putin now, after his blatant disregard for international law and the sovereignty of a neighboring country, would be an insult to every life lost in this war.

Moreover, a negotiated settlement would only serve to embolden other authoritarian regimes around the world. If Russia can invade a neighboring country, commit atrocities, and walk away with some semblance of a victory, what message does that send to other rogue states? China, for instance, is watching the conflict closely. A weak Western response could pave the way for Beijing to make moves on Taiwan, or embolden other dictators with expansionist ambitions. The West’s failure to deliver a decisive outcome in Ukraine could have ripple effects across the globe, destabilizing regions far beyond Eastern Europe.

The numbers don’t lie. According to reports from both the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and independent analysts, Russia has lost tens of thousands of troops since the war began, along with significant amounts of military equipment, including tanks, helicopters, and fighter jets. Russia’s economy, under the weight of unprecedented sanctions, has contracted by about 3% to 4% in 2023 alone, with the ruble losing over 40% of its value since the start of the conflict. Oil and gas revenues, which once propped up the Kremlin, have plummeted as Europe has turned to alternative sources. By any metric, Russia is losing.

Yet, despite these setbacks, Putin’s regime remains defiant, digging in its heels as the war drags on. Therein lies the danger. Cornered animals are the most dangerous, and Putin is no exception. He has shown a willingness to sacrifice his people, his economy, and his country’s future to cling to power. This is a man who, rather than admitting defeat, might escalate the conflict in ways we cannot predict. The Kremlin has already hinted at the possibility of using nuclear weapons, a terrifying prospect that the world cannot afford to ignore.

That is why America and the West must act decisively now. Ukraine has already proven that it can defeat Russia on the battlefield with Western support. What remains is for the West to increase that support and push Putin to the brink. More weapons, more financial aid, more pressure on Moscow—these are the tools that can finish the job Ukraine has started. Failure to do so will only prolong the suffering and give Putin the time he needs to regroup and lash out again, either in Ukraine or elsewhere.

In the end, if the West chooses appeasement, they may as well give Putin a throne in the heart of Europe. They will have squandered the last opportunity to end the Russian menace once and for all. And when the next conflict inevitably arises, the world will look back on this moment with regret, wondering why they didn’t stop the madman when they had the chance.

It’s been said that “a stitch in time saves nine.” Well, Ukraine has already sewn the fabric of Russian defeat—it’s up to the West to pull the thread that unravels Putin’s empire. If they don’t, we’ll be left asking ourselves, “Who’s really the puppet now?”