Three years of Ukrainian sacrifice bought Europe time. Europe is spending it on excuses. Europe is watching Ukraine slowly bleed to death—and making excuses for why it cannot act.

Europe’s red lines on support for Ukraine continue to invite Putin to destroy more of Ukraine and further destroy the international rules based order. While Ukraine shields the peace of NATO nations from Russia’s aggression, Europe’s political formula of ‘supporting Ukraine for as long as it fights’ is humiliatingly inadequate. To claim its geopolitical power, Europe must take action in Ukraine.

The result of Russia’s war of aggression is a product of the ambivalence of the West, which by turns supported Ukraine’s defence in the conflict and refused to escalate its response to a level consistent with the threat Russia poses. The rules-based order is at stake, and Ukraine stands alone in its defence.

After more than a decade of the largest war in Europe since the Second World War, the West can no longer ignore the fact that the tipping point of the global balance of power lies in Ukraine.

Western states have failed to adequately support Kyiv in its defence against Russia’s unprovoked and undeclared war. Without recognizing Russia as the aggressor waging interstate war on Ukraine, the West cannot avail itself of the tools under international law that can ensure Moscow’s aggression is repressed for a just peace in Ukraine.