The war in Ukraine is rethinking the modern world. It is not only an international political change, but also one that affects the foundations of our culture and self-perception.
First, the world has seen the light and suddenly grasped the truth about Russia. Until now, for years, it did not want to see it. Poland and the Poles, who have had tragic experiences of partition, enslavement, Siberia, Katyn, the Gulag and Russian domination of the People's Republic of Poland, have been called Russophobes. Although the Czech experience has been shorter, the Czech position in this respect is equally resolute. For several weeks now, under the pressure of events, the scales have been falling from the eyes of the world public - from some more quickly, from others somewhat hesitantly.
The world has finally woken up - at least for a while. But the world still does not understand the implications of this truth, does not understand that Russia will not stop until we stop it. It only understands arguments based on force. I remember Angela Merkel saying that we must talk to Russia. Yes, we must talk, but we must also be strong. And all of us in Europe today have a responsibility to build that strength. Unfortunately, a large part of the world does not quite want to come to terms with the consequences of Russian aggression, still hoping that maybe things will work out. Preferably on the cheap (i.e. at the expense of the Ukrainians, or the Poles and the Baltic states).
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