MY RECENT pro-Zelensky and anti-Putin posts on my FB account prompted one of my friends to ask why I have been so invested in the war between Russia and Ukraine when it is quite obvious how our country is geographically distant from where the crisis is.
That honest-to-goodness question got me into thinking – why should Filipinos even care at all? But make no mistake, the war between Russia and Ukraine is not just a European crisis.
For one, it is a global issue with far-reaching implications, especially for countries like the Philippines that are intricately connected to global security, economic systems, and democracy. The ongoing conflict should concern Filipinos not only because of the astounding human cost but also due to the lessons it offers about the fragility of freedom and international alliances.
Second, the ongoing war in Ukraine symbolizes a broader struggle for freedom against the forces of authoritarianism. As a US ally in the Asia-Pacific, our country has a stake in ensuring that democracy prevails, not just in Ukraine, but worldwide. The failure to stand up to Russian aggression emboldens not just Putin, but other autocratic regimes that might view the Philippines, and other democracies in Southeast Asia, as vulnerable targets for coercion and manipulation.
Moreover, since the Philippine economy is deeply integrated into global trade systems, it would suffer from the geopolitical instability resulting from Russia’s expansionism. This is not a far-fetched concern. We should all recognize that the outcome of this war could have a direct impact on our lives, whether through disruptions in global markets, rising energy prices, or the long-term consequences of a weakened international order.
That is why I really find it ironic when my Pinoy MAGA friends continue to heap praises on President Trump for his supposed show of might and force during that dismal shouting match at the White House on February 28, a diplomatic debacle that even featured Vice President JD Vance in his full boot-licking bravado asking Zelensky if he had even thanked the United States.
Truth be told, Zelensky has thanked the US government, its leaders and the American people a couple of times, a fact that the Vance deliberately ignored since this narrative of an ungrateful Ukrainian leader will play well with their MAGA base.
And for the record, it is the United States, Europe and even the rest of the world that should thank Ukraine. Why? In 1994, Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in exchange for security assurances under the Budapest Memorandum, a deal signed by Russia, the U.S., and the U.K. However, within less than two decades, Russia violated this agreement, invading Ukraine in 2014. Furthermore, despite a series of ceasefire agreements, including the Minsk Agreements, Putin has consistently failed to adhere to any peace terms, thus proving his untrustworthiness on the international stage.
This pattern of deceit should be a red flag for countries like the Philippines, which rely on alliances to maintain their own security. Putin has shown that he will never honor international agreements if it serves his political or military interests, making him a dangerous player on the world stage. This is the same pattern of deceit and his track record of unworthiness that Trump, Vance and the rest of the MAGA cult are trying to ignore about Putin, in what is supposed to be a deal towards a just and lasting peace.
“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
My readers and I who are old enough to have heard Ronald Reagan utter these words on June 12, 1987 at the Brandenburg Gate, must now be in utter disbelief hearing Trump claim that “Zelensky is a dictator. Ukraine invaded Russia.”
Trump’s comments are not just a distortion of history but a dangerous attempt to rewrite the truth. His approach to foreign policy signals the US government’s alarming pivot toward appeasing authoritarian powers like Russia. By undermining the Ukrainian cause, Trump has effectively permitted Putin’s expansionist ambitions, betrayed NATO’s collective defence principles and weakened the broader democratic world order.
When global powers like the USA waver in their commitment to supporting democratic nations, it is imperative that the Philippines remains vigilant. If it doesn’t, it wouldn’t take long for a new international order to take over, one where aggression goes unchecked, and authoritarianism thrives. And when this alternative order happens, countries like Ukraine are left to fend for themselves, and nations like the Philippines are next in line for exploitation. Now tell me, should we now feel any safer simply because we are miles away from the war in Europe?
