Taras Bilous is a Ukrainian historian, the editor of Commons: Journal of Social Criticism, and an activist of the Social Movement organization.
As a socialist and internationalist, I abhor war. But the basic premise of self-determination justifies the resistance of ordinary Ukrainians to Vladimir Putin’s brutal invasion of our country.
The Russian troop buildup on the Ukrainian border in recent weeks aimed to demonstrate the Kremlin’s muscle and force concessions over disputed regions. The threat of military force will never bring a viable peace — and for the Left, the first task is to de-escalate the rising nationalist tensions.