Ariana Gic
Independent Political Analyst
York University – Osgoode Hall Law School
Direct Initiative International Centre for Ukraine
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Feb 3, 2026
By withholding weapons to Ukraine, Western nations are enabling Russia’s genocidal objective of creating conditions in Ukraine designed to kill Ukrainians.
It’s even more evil that it is used as leverage to coerce Ukraine to surrender to Russia.
Trump and Putin are on the same team. They should not be regarded as pursuing different goals for Ukraine. Both seek Ukraine’s surrender to Russia.
And Europe, fully aware of this, is playing along with Trump’s coercion of Ukraine to give in to Russian genocide.
This ends badly.
Russia “used” Trump like Hitler “used” Stalin.
Stop “standing” and start fighting shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine!
Stop applauding Ukrainian “strength” and “resilience” to Russian made death and destruction and start preventing Russian genocide!
Ukraine is not our shield against fascist Russia! We should be fighting together!!!
Comment from :
We furrow our brow, shuffle our feet and remind Russia of its obligations, reiterated, not recognized, called upon, warned, condemned, strongly condemned, not tolerated, were being loud and clear, made clear, clarified, declared as unacceptable, expressed unwavering support for Ukraine, firm support, demanded of Russia, insisted, closely monitored, took note of, affirmed, reaffirmed, demonstrated, met, conferenced, resolved, expressed commitment, deep commitment, reiterated our conviction, remained steadfast, sent a message, called for restraint, stood firm, stood with, stood next to, stood behind, stood alongside, urged, encouraged, expressed concern, utmost concern, grave concern and profound concern . . .
NATO and allied nations (including Ukraine) assisted the U.S. in Afghanistan. 35 countries ousted Iraq from Kuwait (the size of Crimea), and the former Yugoslavia, where NATO flew nearly 30,000 sorties and in 78 days stopped the slaughter. Yet Ukraine has been defending, alone, against the largest country on the planet, with a border that would stretch around the equator 1.5 times. Now add North Korean and Chinese troops and their and Iran’s weaponry – replete with our technology.
A large proportion of European troops – the individual troops – WANT to fight. Thats why they are troops! Their leaders stop them from helping.
The fact he’s saying this like it’s new news indicates a great many Europeans – probably a higher proportion of Americans – think Ruzzia is targeting military targets; civilians and civilian infrastructure are collateral damage. Even now!
This demonstration may be the only useful thing Rutte has done.
Good photo op , delivered a warning about territorial concessions mandated by taco, so pretty deplorable.
So…get some more weapons there. A peace treaty will not happen until stronger measures are taken–no fly zones and European troops with firepower. Remember the fall of the Soviet Union–Pershing missiles in Germany with troops.
Ariana Gic: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is plainly not up to the task at hand. It’s time for him to go. Full stop.
DATELINE KYIV – DAY 1442 : 4368 Wake up, Europe!
“Europe does not defend itself at its borders in Brussels, Berlin or Paris. Europe defends itself on the frontline. And today, that frontline is Ukraine.” [Credit: Rolf Ivar Skår]
Only the decisive defeat of the Russian Federation’s armed forces in Ukraine will lead to a just and equitable peace, Russian accountability, and a brighter future for Europe and the world.
If you want to win the war quickly, the only sure way to do it is boost Ukraine’s armed forces with every weapon they can absorb NOW.
At present, a cease fire for its own sake will only inure to the benefit of the Russian Federation.
Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words. Time to stop enabling the Kremlin’s imperial ambitions.
Time to unshackle your inner raging bull.
Time to decapitate the snake.
V/r – IB An American in Ukraine (2019 – Present)
СЛАВА УКРАЇНІ! | СЛАВА ЗСУ! + СБУ! + ГУР + НГУ + ДПСУ | НПУ | ДСНС | ГЕРОЯМ СЛАВА!
#ARMUKRAINENOW! #CLOSETHESKIESOVERUKRAINENOW! #RUSSIAISATERRORISTSTATE!
GLORY TO THOSE WHO POSSESS THE COURAGE AND THE FORESIGHT TO #STANDWITHUKRAINE!
Since the Orange and Majdan revolutions civil society has been Ukraine’s essential strength, making it the main target of Putin’s criminal war of destruction. Moreover, there is no point in continuing to say that bombing civilian targets has no military value and is only intended to cause suffering when you are dealing with someone who intends to make Ukrainians suffer until they surrender.
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WARNING: Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid could be designed to achieve the objective of causing a nuclear incident in order to cause full energy system collapse in Ukraine.
Nuclear power plants rely on external sources of energy. If the energy is not coming because of attacks on the infrastructure, it will trigger the safety mechanism of shutting down the reactors. Ukraine will lose nuclear power generation – a critical element of its energy system.
The only reason Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have not fully plunged all of Ukraine into lasting darkness is the availability of nuclear generated power. No nuclear power practically equals no economy as well.
A nuclear incident will be catastrophic of multiple fronts. I don’t feel Russia has ANY limits on its desire to destroy Ukraine. Triggering a nuclear incident like this is well within the realm of Russian possibility.
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Russia attacks maternity wards and maternity hospitals in Ukraine with one purpose and one purpose only: to prevent future generations of Ukrainians from existing. This is clear cut GENOCIDE.
Russia’s attacks on MATERNITY hospitals across Ukraine are SYSTEMIC. These attacks span years, and are meant to kill pregnant women, women giving birth, new mothers and their newborn babies. This is clear cut genocide.
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“We care SO much about Ukraine, we gave some Ukrainians some generators to deal with the total lack of electricity, heat, and water resulting from Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure. We are helping Ukraine. We are with Ukraine. We are with the Ukrainian people. Our support is unwavering.”
“How about a humanitarian military mission to protect Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure from Russian genocide attacks? Let’s PREVENT the humanitarian catastrophe and genocide!”
“Hmmm. Can we really call it genocide though? Hard to discern intent. What I think we can say with confidence is that these attacks on civilians are a sign of Russian weakness. Ukraine is winning. We are with Ukraine.”
“Genocide is clear. Intent is clear. Stopping genocide is a legal duty. Let’s prevent these attacks.”
“The Russian economy is weak. Just as we have been saying since 2014, the Russian economic collapse is imminent. It will cause Russia to lose its ability to wage war. Also, Russia is losing on the battlefield. Negotiations are ongoing. Let’s not rock the boat with provocations like knocking unmanned Russian drones and missiles from Ukrainian skies. Moscow might not like it. It could impact the peace process, you know. And don’t you care about Ukrainian civilians?”
“So you refuse to protect Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure even without ever confronting any Russian soldier. Also, Russia is NOT losing on the battlefield – it is making gains, albeit very small ones.”
“We are with Ukraine. We send generators. And condemn Russian attacks.”
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The argument that “since Putin cannot win on the battlefield, he is turning his attacks on civilians,” is WRONG. There is NO point in the last 4 YEARS where Russia has NOT been attacking civilians and infrastructure.
“Putin sees he cannot win, so he is trying to break Ukrainians by attacking them in their homes.” False. Russia’s massive military escalation of February 2022 was an attack on the CITY of KYIV. They bombed the THEATRE in Mariupol. They bombed farms & destroyed grain silos.
They slaughtered cattle. They MASSACRED civilians – including infants & children – in cities across the country starting in February 2022. They bombed libraries, schools, & hospitals. They destroyed archives & burned books across UA. In 2022.
Russia’s daily HUMAN SAFARI BY DRONES in Kherson has been ongoing AT LEAST since the summer of 2024. RU has spent years attacking Ukrainian civilians walking, cycling, driving, farming, & more, with DRONES 300km from the front lines for years.
RU failure to capture MORE Ukrainian territory shows UA military strength. It shows that properly supported, UA CAN win on the battlefield. BUT RU failure to capture a great deal MORE Ukrainian territory does not mean that RU has lost, & that UA has won. RU occupation of Ukrainian territory is RU victory. It should not be spun any other way. RU occupies at least 22% of UA.
Russia’s slow battlefield gains are evidence of UA strength & that the war is truly winnable. But it is NOT why RU attacks ALL of UA. The attacks on Ukrainian civilians & infrastructure are not a consequence of battlefield failure, but part of Russian state GENOCIDE POLICY.
The use of terror, the attacks on civilians and infrastructure; the attacks on Ukraine cultural and educational institutions; the erasure of Ukrainian culture, language, and education in occupied Ukraine, are all part of the SAME Russian genocide of Ukrainians.
Russia is not trying to freeze MILLIONS of Ukrainians to death for territorial conquest. Russian strikes on energy infrastructure did not commence this winter. It is genocide. Russia is committing GENOCIDE of Ukrainians, because this is Moscow’s CORE objective in Ukraine.
It is WRONG to pretend that what is in fact Russian genocide of Ukrainians is “war crimes” used because battlefield gains are slow. It is WRONG to label the attacks on civilians as acts of terror or war crimes. These are acts of GENOCIDE. The acts of genocide CAUSE terror.
People must stop sweeping the FACT of Russian genocide of Ukrainians under the rug. It is real. Every single legal test is met. The attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure aren’t because of Russian military weakness, but a part of coordinated and directed state policy of committing genocide against Ukrainians.
You cannot end genocide when you don’t acknowledge its existence. Russian genocide exists. We have a moral and legal duty to stop genocide. We have a moral and legal duty to stop Russia.
Comment from :
Just a small correction, russia deliberately target civilians since 2014, not from 2022, and doing genocide for centuries indeed.
Ariana Gic : this current genocide is just an extension of the old one. It never stopped, even during those times they were calling the Ukrainians brothers. It existed and persisted throughout the centuries. There were no military on the Maidan in 2014. Killings there are as integral part of the genocide as Golodomor.
Ariana’s passionate words seem to be written in Ukrainian blood.
I also commend commenter Chris O’Shea : spot on as usual.
I watched all of Rutte’s speech yesterday, to try to find something in it that was new, or useful to Ukraine.
But no, it was drivel. “Nato stands with you!”
Pah! No it fucking doesn’t.
We are all enabling genocide. The worse offenders being the ghastly pro-russia regime in the WH.
Graham has again called for Tomahawks.
Good.
But will he be heeded?
What do you think?
No. Only warm CO2 rhetoric to be in the news again.
Maybe. If more Republicans return to their roots instead of following this MAGA Führer cult.
“It is WRONG to pretend that what is in fact Russian genocide of Ukrainians is “war crimes” used because battlefield gains are slow. It is WRONG to label the attacks on civilians as acts of terror or war crimes. These are acts of GENOCIDE. The acts of genocide CAUSE terror.”
Exactly right.
Alas, if only words were as deadly as weapons. I said this back in 2022 already. Now we have 2026. Nothing’s changed.