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Ukraine War Debate

November 17, 2022
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Ukraine War Debate

Be it resolved, Putin deserves a dead end, not an off ramp, in Ukraine.

When Putin invaded Ukraine in the Spring of 2022, the western world reacted in understandable horror. The first major ground mobilization in Europe since The Second World War arrived in shocking, gruesome fashion. Almost immediately, global security experts were predicting Kyiv would fall within days, and the overmatched, under trained Ukrainian Army could not possibly compete with the Russian juggernaut. But these early predictions severely underestimated the Ukrainian will to protect their homeland, and overestimated Russia’s military acuity.

Now, almost a year into the conflagration, Russia is on its heels, and by all accounts Putin’s gamble has been one calamity after another for his sclerotic regime. But the question that still remains is, how does it end? For some foreign policy experts, military brass, and Russia watchers, the only way to prevent similar incursions in the future Putin must be beaten outright and beaten badly. But others argue that the risks of cornering a madman vastly outweigh the benefits and offering Putin an off ramp is the best possible scenario to restore order, peace, and stability.

“Putin has had plenty of possible off ramps before and during this war. And he’s shown no interest in taking them.”

– JAMES GOLDGEIER

“Putin may deserve a dead end, but it’s not clear to me that that’s better for everybody else.”

-EMMA ASHFORD

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