I know that I'm the worst enemy of myself. So, in the "philosophical" discussion taking place in some ivory tower, far away from the battlefields, I could agree that Ukrainians failed Ukraine; they were their worst enemies, etc. (We can extend the list to Poles who failed Poland in 1939, Chinese in 1937, etc.).
Real life was more complicated. Just to remind some facts:
1. Budapest Memorandum, where Ukrainian security was "assured" by "great powers".
2. Positive attitude among the Ukrainian public towards the Russian Federation until the end of 2013-2014.
3. Attempts of the Ukrainian leadership to eradicate those Russian connections were not supported by the West. Even more, Ukrainians were lectured more than once about the importance of keeping historical ties with Russia. Chicken Kyiv speech was not an accidental or isolated event.
4. Contrary to popular belief, shots were fired in Crimea in 2014.
5. After Crimea, Ukrainians did act, despite all complications of hybrid warfare, confusion and against the mighty enemy. Volunteers and paramilitary units were first, and the Army followed them.
6. President Poroshenko was in Washington in September 2014. Russian artillery has been firing across- border since the end of June. Russian mercenaries haven't hidden their presence since April. Russian regular troops have been in Ukraine since August. Poroshenko asked for military aid. He thanked the USA for the non-lethal support provided, and he said that "we cannot win the war with blankets". First Western lethal aid will arrive 4 years later.
7. MH 17 was shot down by a Russian missile. Most passengers were from the "West". Ukraine did its part by allowing the Netherlands to take over the investigation and by providing support. Did the West act - not to help Ukraine but to hold the killers of Western civilians accountable? Rhetorical question.
