Dr Michael Reynolds, Senior Lecturer in International Law, International Commercial Arbitration and Professional Skills, University of East London.
Author of Instruments of Peacemaking 1870-1914, and Instruments of Peacemaking 1918-1941: The Failure of Diplomacy.
An Arsenal for Democracy
This Op Ed attempts to deal with two highly important themes: first the question of Ukraine’s survival as a sovereign nation state, and second, no less a question than the survival of American democracy itself.
The title chosen is based on a great speech by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt summarising his actions to support Britain during what Churchill described as its “finest hour.” At the end of that war in 1945 the allies remained in occupation of the former German Reich sharing the state with the Soviet Union whose armies occupied most of Eastern Europe at that time. Gradually relations deteriorated between the former allies and the Atlantic Alliance (NATO) was formed in 1949 to protect the freedom and security of the democracies in Western Europe. It is significant that it was an American initiative backed strongly by the British government following Churchill and Roosevelt’s understanding when they declared an Atlantic Charter in August1941 before the United States was attacked by the Japanese and Germany declared war.
During the 1950s and 1960s relations between the two superpowers: the Soviet Union and the United States deteriorated and in 1961 the Russians threatened Berlin and succeeded in erecting a wall dividing the city. In 1962 they secretly positioned nuclear missiles on Cuba in proximity to the United States. A resolution to the crisis was negotiated and the missiles were withdrawn from Cuba and the United States withdrew its missiles from Turkey. Tensions remained in terms of the communist threat to Vietnam which resulted in a continual war between the northern and southern forces, the south being aided by the United States. Apart from the wars in the Middle East against Iraq and the war in Afghanistan Europe was relatively free of conflict save in Bosnia from 1992-1994. Today the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is far more serious and has all the attributes of a major war. The Russian “special operation” was planned to take a matter of days: it is unlikely to be resolved soon. As with Britain in 1940 if Ukraine is to survive it needs urgent support in terms of industrial scale rearmament with a consistent flow of munitions, especially in air defence. Europe which is directly affected, unlike the United States, must meet that challenge
The American administration has made many attempts to mediate the war between Russia and Ukraine. The US delegation comprises two businessman who no doubt have experience in negotiating various large scale property development and financial deals where the aim is win-win for both sides. That is quite different from trying to get two countries who are at war to stop it. The apparent insurmountable task before them is one of complex difficulty and magnitude, as between an aggressor which aims to conquer the whole of Ukraine and the Ukrainians who will never relinquish their homeland. In diplomatic terms it is very difficult to see the current US delegation making a breakthrough to secure a ceasefire or any degree of a permanent peace between the belligerent powers. The absence of the US Secretary of State is concerning, unlike in Dr Henry Kissinger’s time who was considerably adept in resolving international crises. It seems extraordinary that businessmen are negotiating with the President of Russia and his senior advisors and colleagues. It was interesting to watch the delegates, Mr Witkoff and Mr Kushner give a press conference in Kiev last week and being interviewed by various journalists. What was significant at a meeting between the Ukrainian government and the delegates was the presence of European representatives. Europe was clearly sending a message that it has every interest in promoting a peaceful settlement to this war. From a European perspective statesman find the war in Ukraine far more dangerous than the American administration since Russia is on their doorstep. The whole arrangement for this process is bizarre bearing in mind the questionable relationship between Mr Trump and Mr Putin which raises concern about Europe’s security. Without European input into any settlement discussions, and urgent industrial/technological output in supporting Ukraine. It is very difficult to see an early acceptable solution to what may be described as the most dangerous conflict in Europe since 1939-1945.
Democracy on trial
Whilst the United States is preoccupied with its war against Iran and massive expenditure of weaponry with the resultant complete blockage of the Strait of Hormuz vital to the world’s oil supply, its trade policy bears a similar detrimental effect on global markets. The combination of infantile social media attacks and tariffs unilaterally imposed on America’s traditional allies and friends in Canada and Europe not only affect those countries, but the American voter. It seems that an incoherent range of executive decisions taken with or without proper advice is not only increasing the risk of a global recession, but electoral disaster for the Republican party in the forthcoming mid-term elections. Already US State Attorney Generals are launching legal action to prevent the administration from acting unconstitutionally. One former eminent Federal Judge, Michael J Luttig, has warned that even if the Democrats have a majority of seats the House Speaker might dismiss the Chief Clerk and prevent the candidates taking their seats. If that happens legal action will follow, but it maybe that this process will take some time and in the interregnum the President may assume to do what he likes. It may not be unforeseeable or unreasonable to suspect that seeing this chaos Russia might go all out to conquer Ukraine and then attack some NATO countries. Thus, democracy as has been practiced in America is at another critical point as it was in 2020 when the Congress was attacked and the mob tried to overturn Biden’s election. Thanks to the courage of the Vice President, Mike Pence, and to the advice he received from Judge Luttig a major constitutional coup was avoided. In his article in The New Republic published on the 10 September 2026 Judge Luttig completed his analysis by quoting the words of President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 who counselled Americans in the trauma of Civil War saying: “We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country.” In today’s context the Republican party must distance itself from President Trump’s cult and save American democracy.
