One year later, stakes rising over Putin’s land grab strategy

One year later, conflict rages on the other side of the world as Americans watch from afar, hoping and praying that Russia’s unprovoked invasion into Ukraine doesn’t escalate into a broader, global war.
Here on the home front there is little talk of the war in Ukraine, though there are constant updates with images of death and destruction on the nightly news. It’s hard to watch, frankly, as helpless victims try to recover from endless attacks which they do not understand.
Nor does the rest of the world understand, for that matter, as Vladimir Putin seems the only man on the planet convinced that this is a war worth waging. It’s aggressive, it’s costly in terms of money and lives lost, and it very clearly sends a shot across the bow to the United States and any Western allies who dare oppose Russian’s attempted land grab. The message — Putin, and Russia, will simply take what they want, consequences be damned.
One full year after launching this assault, all of Russia, and especially Putin, has to be embarrassed by the results with an estimated 60,000-200,000 killed or wounded in action and thousands of tanks lost to what they thought was an inferior foe. Ukraine has suffered horrendous losses as well, with an estimated 100,000 killed, but is perceived as a wounded warrior, heels dug in for as long as it takes. 
Ukranian President Volodymyr Zalensky is the ultimate warrior, an impressive leader and patriot who has earned credibility with his stoic words and actions. His speech to the U.S. Congress a few months back was riveting, in fact one of the more powerful presentations on that stage in recent memory as it brought boisterous support and emotional response from both sides of the aisle.
A whole new generation is seeing Russian aggression that was once the heart of the Cold War. We had thought such a global nuclear threat from Russia was history, but just last week Putin raised the stakes by saying Moscow will step back from the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the U.S. and Russia, vowing to continue his campaign in Ukraine. Those are dangerous words, and he knows it, reflecting a tone once commonplace from the Soviet bear. Breaking news this weekend that China is considering a major contribution of military aid to Russia only heightens the global tension.
President Biden made a surprise visit to the embattled nation on the eve of the war’s one-year anniversary, offering continued support as well as an additional $460 million in military aid. Already some are starting to question the sustainability of such aid, with no end to the conflict in sight. 
At this point, the cost and political implications of supporting Ukraine continue to rise, though the risks of stepping back from the fray are greater still. This war remains a half a world away, on the ground, though its level of angst and engagement, even here in Nebraska, is rapidly rising. 

KURT JOHNSON can be reached at kjohnson@ hamilton.net