We can’t ignore the fact that Russia has brazenly flouted international law and exploited its military might to usurp the sovereignty of a European country. This is not a one-off incident; this is a pattern. Russia has been disregarding the agreements it has made since the 1950s, and this move is just the latest example of its disregard for the rules of the game.

Giving in to Russia’s demands would send a message that its aggressive behavior is acceptable, even desirable. It’s a slippery slope, my friends. Next, Russia will be pushing for more, and more, and more. And trust me, that’s not what we want.

I’m not saying that stopping the fighting should be our top priority. In fact, I think we should be looking at the bigger picture here. What are we really achieving by conceding to Russia’s aggression? Are we truly gaining a lasting peace, or are we just appeasing a bully? I say we should be thinking long-term, not just short-term. Let’s not sacrifice our values and our principles just to avoid a temporary conflict.

Make no mistake, this is not a one-time deal. If we give in to Russia’s demands, we will be setting a dangerous precedent. Next time, it’ll be Ukraine, and the next, and the next. We can’t let that happen. Let’s think carefully about the long-term consequences of our actions, and let’s not sacrifice our ideals for a false sense of security.