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** Ukraine Must Join the EU to Punish Russia ([link removed])
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by Con Coughlin • March 4, 2022 at 5:00 am
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* With clear signs that the West's strong and united response to Mr Putin's aggression is paying dividends, there is a strong and compelling argument for the West to maintain the pressure on Russia by any means possible.
* One option to increase Moscow's isolation further, for example, would be to expand membership of Western institutions such as the European Union and the Nato alliance to countries like Ukraine, a move that would guarantee their removal from Moscow's sphere of influence.
* European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has already stated unequivocally that Ukraine should ultimately become an EU member state, declaring, "They are one of us and we want them in."
* An excellent source of gas would be the EastMed pipeline project, which could provide energy to Europe from allies Cyprus and Israel, via Greece, and should be built without delay. US President Joe Biden recently killed it, as he has so far killed much of America's fossil fuel exploration, production and distribution -- policies economically and geopolitically crippling both to Americans and their allies in Europe.
* The irony is that America, formerly energy independent, is currently importing 500,000 barrels of oil a day from Russia. At more than $100 a barrel, Biden, or rather Americans, are therefore providing Putin half a billion dollars a day to kill Ukrainians. When the United States recently asked OPEC to increase production to help lower prices in the US, they were told, "If you want more oil, pump it yourself."
* Mr Putin, by invading Ukraine, has signalled no intention of abiding by the norms of international conduct. For its part, the West must respond by taking every measure to ensure Russia pays the heaviest price possible for its appalling conduct.

One option to increase Moscow's isolation further would be to expand membership of Western institutions such as the European Union and the Nato alliance to countries like Ukraine, a move that would guarantee their removal from Moscow's sphere of influence. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has stated unequivocally that Ukraine should ultimately become an EU member state, declaring, "They are one of us and we want them in." Pictured: Von der Leyen holds a news briefing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev on October 12, 2021. (Photo by Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images)

If any good is to come from Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, it is that the Western powers exploit the Kremlin's unprovoked act of aggression to further strengthen the cause of democratic freedom in Europe.

In many respects, Russia's brutal assault on Ukraine has acted as a salutary wake up call for Europe's liberal elites, who appeared more inclined to appease Moscow than stand up for Kyiv's democratic rights.

In the weeks immediately preceding last week's invasion, a number of prominent European leaders, such as French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, seemed perfectly willing to pacify Mr Putin by sacrificing Ukrainian sovereignty to Moscow.

Thankfully, their efforts ended in abject failure as the Russian leader, despite his repeated declarations that he had no intention of invading Ukraine, has caused the greatest crisis in European security witnessed since the creation of the Iron Curtain.

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