Zelensky Declares Crisis After Billions in Western Aid, Still Can't Get the Lights On
Zelensky has declared a state of emergency for Ukraine's energy grid, as thousands freeze without power. The BBC, naturally, frames this as an unprovoked humanitarian crisis caused solely by Russian aggression. They fail to mention the billions in aid already poured into Ukraine – over $175 billion from the U.S. alone since February 2022, much of it military. One wonders if that aid, had it been
directed at, say, hardening energy infrastructure or promoting a diplomatic resolution (remember those?), might have prevented this winter catastrophe. It appears the 'forever war' strategy, championed by politicians who line their pockets from defense contractors, is excellent for arms manufacturers and politicians' reelection campaigns, but not so much for Ukrainian civilians in sub-zero
temperatures. Perhaps if Western leaders focused less on sending weapons that prolong the conflict and more on actual infrastructure resilience, Ukrainians wouldn't be stuck in the dark.