By Diana Vance

Monroe

To the Editor:

Russian invincibility has been demolished because of Ukraine’s resistance to Putin’s invasion. With the assistance from the U.S., perhaps we could have a surprise ending to this war. What would you think if Russia broke into 34 states? Here is what is happening: Just as Russia is trying to claim Ukraine as its own, other countries are eying chunks of Russian land as they see how weak the Russian army is.

Nations within Russia are waiting for their right time to oust the bully. The Kremlin should be wary of promoting a world where it is acceptable to seize territories through force; it only invites others to join in and claim parts of Russia for themselves.

We can have positive interesting hope that countries like Japan are speaking up now. They now tell Russia that their grab of the northern territories of the Kuril Islands and the Soviet Union’s illegal occupation of them 77 years ago was “completely unaccessible” when Russia forced the Japanese people from the Southern Islands. Talks broke down when Putin showed he was not willing to share lands but only to gain new ones. President Biden visited Japan recently and he is good at working with nations who are hungry for freedom and rescuing lands stolen years ago. Even China is going after stolen lands.

Dividing Russia into 34 states is where these dreams are happening. It’s the prospect of gaining control over their own finances that could prompt local elites to seek independence. They have constitutions stating sovereignty but were silenced. Too bad President Biden cannot get in there.

Then on their own, people might gain strength in the poorest regions of Russia. People there feel they are treated like second hand citizens compared to St. Petersburg or Moscow. The mounting numbers of caskets from the front lines to the small towns and villages further fuel the flames. Putin better watch his back or Russian land proves too tempting for its neighbors — and its oppressed citizens. Russians will take oppression for a long time but perhaps not when it involves their children. Putin grabs these young men, barely trains them and sends them into battle. That is why they come home in caskets. And they were their parent’s hopes for a better life for their sons and themselves. Instead these families are destroyed and hope is gone. What a bitter pill for these human beings.