Right this moment is the second anniversary of the beginning of Vladimir Putin’s brutal effort to overcome Ukraine. Whereas Russian aggression towards Ukraine dates again to the seizure of Crimea and elements of the Donbass in 2014, the February 2022 invasion vastly escalated the battle, led to large-scale loss of life and destruction, and—even worse—intensive atrocities dedicated by Russian forces.
That is an replace of final yr’s February 24 put up, compiling my writings in regards to the battle as much as that point. There have been many extra over subsequent yr. I ended final yr’s put up with the hope that Ukraine may win a decisive victory quickly, but in addition stating “I fear I may be compiling another list like it a year from now.” Sadly, that worry has come to go.
On this put up, I compile hyperlinks to my writings in regards to the battle during the last two years. Many concentrate on the large refugee disaster it has triggered, as that’s the facet most intently associated to my areas of experience. However I’ve additionally written on a range different points associated to the battle.
Because the early days of the battle, I’ve advocated that the US and different Western nations ought to open their doorways to each Ukrainian refugees and Russians fleeing Vladimir Putin’s more and more repressive regime. Over time, I’ve turn out to be an increasing number of satisfied that the West ought to give Ukraine as a lot weaponry and provides as potential, with a purpose to push for the biggest potential Ukrainian victory. The Ukrainians have performed properly militarily; their latest issues are largely a results of ammunition and provide shortages attributable to slowdowns in US and different western help. Russia’s forces, for his or her half, have suffered heavy losses, are solely modestly competent, and have poor morale and self-discipline. They are often overwhelmed, if solely the West is keen to make a reasonably modest funding, a lot of which will be funded by confiscating Russian authorities property in Western nations.
There are additionally massive ethical and strategic advantages to Ukrainian victory. The ethical facet is clear—saving hundreds of thousands of individuals from oppression, atrocities, and mass homicide by the hands of a brutal authoritarian regime. As well as, Ukrainian victory would reinforce liberal democracy in its ideological wrestle towards authoritarian nationalism. Strategically, Putin’s regime is likely one of the important enemies of america and the West. Any Russian forces broken or destroyed in Ukraine are ones we do not have to face elsewhere. And a defeat for Russia can also be one of the best hope for a extra liberal, or at the very least hostile, authorities in that nation.
Those that declare serving to Ukraine is a diversion from countering China within the Pacific would do properly to keep in mind that our Asian allies—together with Taiwan—consider serving to Ukraine is of their strategic curiosity. They know that weakening Russia additionally weakens China (for whom Russia is a key ally), and that exhibiting resolve in Ukraine helps deter China, as properly.
I focus on many of those factors—and others—in better element in varied items linked beneath.
Within the first a part of this put up, I compile hyperlinks to writings on refugee and immigration points. Within the latter half, I compile hyperlinks to different items. Until in any other case famous, all of those items have been revealed proper right here on the Volokh Conspiracy weblog, hosted by Cause.
I listing them in chronological order. In case you simply wish to have a look at more moderen items, merely scroll down!
I. Writings on Immigration and Refugee Points
“Offer Asylum to Russian Soldiers Who Surrender,” Mar. 1, 2022.
“Biden Grants Temporary Protected Status to Ukrainians in the US,” Mar. 4, 2022
“How the Us Can Help Refugees (and Weaken Vladimir Putin),” New York Occasions, Mar. 8, 2022 (non-paywalled model right here). This was in all probability my most generally learn article about any concern associated to the conflict.
“More on Offering Asylum to Russian Soldiers Who Surrender in Ukraine, Mar. 10, 2022
“US and Canada Increase Admission of Ukrainian Refugees,” Mar. 24, 2022
“The Case for Opening Our Doorways to Russians Fleeing Putin—as Nicely as Ukrainians,” Mar. 27, 2022.
“By Accepting Ukrainian and Russian Refugees, Canada Can do Good and do Nicely,” Globe and Mail, Apr. 12, 2022 (with Sabine El-Chidiac)
“Ukraine and Double Requirements on Refugees,” Apr. 24, 2022
“Biden Administration Takes Incremental Steps to Open Doorways to Ukrainian and Russian Refugees,” May 2, 2022
“A Double Normal Between Ukrainian and Afghan Refugees?,” May 26, 2022
“New Wave of Russian Emigration is an Alternative for the West—however One We Appear Prone to Flub,” July 17, 2022
“Individuals Ought to be Capable of Sponsor Refugees Who Can Keep Completely,” Washington Post, July 18, 2022 (with Sabine El-Chidiac) (non-paywall version here)
“The Rise of Non-public Refugee Sponsorship,” Aug. 6, 2022
“Do not Play into Putin’s Fingers by Barring Russians from the West—As a substitute, Let Extra in,” Aug. 23, 2022
“Vladimir Putin’s Partial Mobilization Order Strengthens the Case for Opening Western Doorways to Russians Fleeing His Regime,” Sept. 22, 2022
“Why (Most) Residents Are Not “Responsible for the Actions of their State,” Sept. 25, 2022. Critique of a standard rationale for barring entry to Russians fleeing Putin’s regime.
“Learning From People Who Vote with their Feet,” Oct. 5, 2022. This piece explains what we will be taught in regards to the high quality of Russia’s authorities from the truth that massive numbers of persons are voting with their toes towards it.
“Uniting for Ukraine Private Refugee Sponsorship Program Breaks Through Bureaucratic Red Tape,” Nov. 27, 2022
“Russian Dissenters Fleeing Putin Often Face Abusive Immigration Detention Upon Arrival in the US,” Nov. 30, 2022
“We Sponsored Refugees Under a New Biden Program. The Results Were Astonishing,” Washington Publish, Jan. 3, 2023 (non-paywall model right here). This was in all probability my second-most influential piece on points associated to the conflict. It apparently led over 100 folks to enroll as refugee sponsors within the Uniting for Ukraine program, in response to knowledge compiled by the Welcome.US sponsor matching website. I’ve since sponsored a number of further Ukrainian migrants myself, and have helped different folks turn out to be sponsors.
“Biden Expands Uniting for Ukraine Private Refugee Sponsorship Model to Include up to 30,000 Migrants Per Month from Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Haiti,” Jan. 5, 2023.
“Addressing Some Common Questions and Misconceptions About Uniting for Ukraine and Other Private Migrant Sponsorship Programs,” Jan. 10, 2023
“Canada Grants Refugee Status to Russian Fleeing Conscription,” Jan. 21, 2023
“Why Congress Should Pass a Ukrainian Adjustment Act,” Feb. 22, 2023
“US Accepted 271,000 Ukrainians Over the Last Year—But Can Do Much Better,” Mar. 15, 2023
“US Needs to Protect Ukrainian Refugees in the United States,” Boston Globe, April 21, 2023 (non-paywalled model out there right here).
“Bipartisan Ukrainian Adjustment Act Introduced in Congress,” June 15, 2023.
“Michael McFaul Makes the Case for Reaching out to the ‘Russian Diaspora,'” June 26, 2023
“Biden Administration Extends Temporary Protected Status for Ukrainians in the United States,” Aug. 18, 2023
I’ve additionally performed a wide range of podcasts and broadcast media interviews on migration and refugee points arising from the conflict. For examples, see right here, right here, right here, and right here.
II. Writings on Different Points Associated to the Conflict
“Law, Justice, and the Russia-Ukraine Conflict,” Feb. 23, 2022 (put up written simply because the Russian assault started; I feel it is nonetheless a useful abstract of the ethical and authorized points at stake within the conflict).
“How to Fight Putin by Offering Russians ‘a Million Little Carrots,'” Mar. 6, 2022
“Two Illiberal and Unjust Zelensky Policies the West Should Force Him to End,” April 1, 2022. This drew extra damaging reactions than anything I’ve written in regards to the conflict. Nonetheless, I stand by it. Zelensky’s authorities is vastly higher than Putin’s and deserves Western help within the conflict. However that does not justify overlooking its wrongs.
“The Case for Pursuing the Issue of Russian War Crimes in Ukraine—Even Though Putin is Highly Unlikely to Ever be Tried and Punished,” April 10, 2022
“Law, Justice, and Russia’s Attempted Annexation of Four Ukrainian Regions, Oct. 4, 2022
“The West Ought to Heed this Message from a Russian Jail,” Feb. 16, 2023
“A Battle Between Liberal Democracy and Authoritarian Nationalism: Implications of the Ideological Stakes within the Russia-Ukraine Conflict,” Feb. 24, 2023
“Russian Opposition Chief Vladimir Kara-Murza’s Highly effective Closing Assertion to the Courtroom,” Apr. 17, 2023
“Worldwide Legal Courtroom Points Conflict Crimes Arrest Warrant Towards Vladimir Putin,” Mar. 17, 2023
“Michael McFaul Makes the Case for Reaching out to the ‘Russian Diaspora,'” June 26, 2023. This piece relates to both immigration and broader issues. Thus it appears in both sections.
“These Who Help Israel Towards Hamas Also needs to Again Ukraine Towards Russia,” Oct. 12, 2023
“Fund Ukraine’s Conflict Effort by Confiscating Russian Authorities Property,” Nov. 17, 2023. The importance of this issue is underestimated. The $300 billion in Russian government assets currently frozen in the West could, by itself, fund Ukraine’s war effort for a long time to come.
“The GOP’s Bogus Linkage Between Aiding Ukraine and ‘Border Safety,'” Dec. 12, 2023. This post is partly about issues at the US southern border, but it is not focused on refugees from the Ukraine war itself, and therefore fits in this category.
“US, Allies Think about Seizing Russian Authorities Property and Giving them to Ukraine,” Dec. 28, 2023
“Alexei Navalny, RIP,” Feb. 16, 2024. Russia’s most prominent opposition leader—recently murdered by Putin—understood the evil Putin’s war on Ukraine.
“Tucker Carlson vs. the Proof of Russians Voting with their Toes,” Feb. 16, 2024. This pertains to migration, too. However I put it on this a part of the put up, as a result of it is extra about the best way to assess Russia’s authorities and society.
I hope the US and its allies bolster help to Ukraine, and the conflict reaches a profitable decision quickly. However, as soon as once more, I worry I could find yourself posting one other listing like this in 2025.