1,000 days have passed since Russian President Vladimir Putin attacked Ukraine in February 2022. A 1,000-day hell has followed for an innocent civilian population, who have had to endure abuses they should never have been subjected to in a modern world.
The conflict has taken its toll one million people life or health so far. Most of them young Russian men mercilessly used by their own leaders in an attack contrary to international law on a friendly neighboring country. They too are victims of neo-fascism’s ideology.
The Ukrainians face even greater trials in the next 1,000 days
That this could happen in our time and in our Europe is still difficult to fully take in. 24 February 2022 was the start of a new era in European history. 1000 days into this conflict, it is highly uncertain where it will end and with what result.
The election of Donald Trump has fueled theories about peace on the Russians’ terms. In that case, it would be a dangerous knee-jerk reaction to brute force and an acceptance that Putin can deal with the neighboring states he wants. Peace on Putin’s terms would be a disaster for European security.
There is every reason to use the grotesque anniversary to recognize Ukraine’s extraordinary and heroic resistance. A battle they are not just fighting for themselves and theirs, but for all of us. No one thought they would be able to withstand a Russian attack and that Kyiv would fall within days. Now they have kept the enemy from life for 1000 days.
They have been able to do that because the support from the outside world has been good. But it could have been better, and the situation at the front is becoming increasingly critical. Although modern technology largely favors the defending partythe Russians are showing a recklessness that means they are slowly eating into Ukrainian territory.
The Ukrainians and international solidarity therefore face even greater trials in the next 1,000 days. Norway must also contribute more than we have done, and we are happy about the government’s clear signals of standing by Ukraine’s side in the long run.
Ukraine is said to have now received the green light from the White House to use long-range weapons against Russian and North Korean forces to ward off attacks on the front salient in Kursk. This is a long step in the right direction for the Ukrainian defense capability. It is nevertheless worrying, because at the same time it increases the risk of escalation and the use of nuclear weapons. The marking of the 1000 day war is done with the heart in the throat.
We still have to accept that risk. Putin’s imperialism must be stopped, and unfortunately there is only one language he understands.