The ban on Russia’s VKontakte and Odnoklassniki social networks, sanctions against 1,700 companies and individuals, readying of sanctions against Russian pharmaceutical products and so on. All of these happened just last week but whereas, as many Ukrainian believes, they should have happened in 2014, when the Russian aggression was yet in the bud. The Ukrainian authorities realised this only now. But better late than never. A series of measures they have taken, which can generally be described as anti-Russian, are certain to benefit the positions of our Western allies.
Think about the early years of the State of Israel. A small piece of land encircled by enemies all around. The country which did not have sufficient resources of its own - either financial, or human, or military, or any at all. When you read the memoirs of fifth Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir born in Kyiv, you can really imagine what it was back then. By the way, during that period Meira often went abroad to ask large Jewish communities in the USA and other countries for help to the fledgling state. And when in the USA, she urged military assistance.
However, the help was rather scarce. As the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, Oleksandr Turchynov, would put it, “they did not even give us a slingshot”. That is how he commented the US refusal to give Ukraine lethal weapons when he talked to LB.ua two years ago.
Still, when the young state of Israel changed its attitude to more assertive, if not aggressive, with regard to its hostile neighbours, the situation changed dramatically. The USA, as the main donor, launched an arms supply programme, boosted grant and education support.
Clearly, Ukraine should learn from Israel. And not only from it.
It is important to remember: none but us will solve our problems.
It seems to me it is time we give it a thought.
Good night and good luck!