Former Ambassador to Ukraine Shares Insights with MSU Students
(Crystal A. Proxmire, March 3, 2022)
Produce.
Produce is a point of optimism for former US Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor in his belief that Russia will not successfully win in their quest to occupy their neighbor’s land.
For the past eight days the world has watched as Russia, under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, has bombed and attacked the country in a war that Taylor says is “like David and Goliath.” Yet the progress of the attack has been slowed and Ukrainians are fighting back. Other nations have imposed economic sanctions.
Taylor, who served as the 6th United States ambassador to President Bush and Obama, and as acting ambassador under President Trump, took time to speak with students at Michigan State University and other members of the public through a Zoom presentation Thursday. The talk was hosted by Michigan State University Ukrainian Student Organization, in association with the Center for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies.
Like many experts on the politics of the region, Taylor has his opinion on how things will unfold. One common question is why the United States does not just go in and use force to resolve the situation. “Biden has been clear that he won’t put troops on the ground,” he said. “That is too much of a risk of sparking, of triggering, of igniting, a war with Russia that could spiral out of control in any number of ways.”
The United States and other countries have imposed economic sanctions that are being felt by the Russian people. Taylor’s theory is that as Russian soldiers start returning in body bags, and the economic sanctions sink in, the people will push back against Putin.
And in Ukraine, the people will fight until the Russians are driven out, he said.
“The world expected, and I’m sure the Russians expected, that this would not be so long. They expected, I’m sure, to be in Kiev after two days, after a day and a half.” Taylor said. “And the Ukraine culture had put up such a fight, around the country. The Russians haven’t covered themselves with glory by any means. They have been pretty incompetent surprisingly.”
A big logistical issue is that airports throughout Ukrainne have been destroyed, meaning that supplies like food, water, and ammunition must be moved by land.
“The Ukranians know the roads. They know their woods. They know their trails,” Taylor said.
“I heard this morning there were fresh vegetables in Kiev. They know how to use the roads. And if they can get Fresh produce in, they can get ammunition.”
Ukranian soldiers and organized civilians who have stepped up to fight have found success in ambushing Russian troops. A 40 mile convey has been stalled out and prevented from entering Kiev. And the story of Ukranian workers switching around road signs to confuse Russians has been making international news, and having some success.
In time, though he’d not speculate how long, he thinks Russia will withdraw.
Taylor also provided some history, stating that Russia had invaded Ukraine in 2014, an event that helped solidify the Ukrainian people as a nation, and their image of Russia as an enemy. Prior to that, the nation had been struggling to find their footing with democracy and identity. There were debates over what languages should be recognized, as well as who Ukraine should consider allies. It was Russia who helped bring the country together though their invasion, and the strength of the resistance they now face has come from that unity. They lost the Crimean Peninsula in the 2014 invasion, and they seem determined not to loose more.
Taylor told the story of a friend who escorted their family to the western part of the country, then went back to join the fight. It is a story happening with many families.
Beyond Ukraine, the world has been demonstrating support. “On every overpass from Virginia to DC are Ukraine and American flags,” Taylor said. “This conflict… has garnered the interest and attention of people around the world.”
A more concrete show of support was the NATO vote to condemn Russia’s invasion. 141 countries including the United States, voted to condemn. Only five countries – Russia, North Korea, Eritrea, Syria, and Belarus voted against it.
“The world is on Ukraine’s side,” he said.
