Zelensky and Churchill 2.0

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Winston_Churchill_at_a_BBC_microphone_about_to_broadcast_to_the_nation_on_the_afternoon_of_VE_Day,_8_May_1945._H41843.jpg

The leader of Ukraine is currently facing the harsh and unforgiving realties of great power politics. In sum, despite the exceptionable bravery and innovation of Ukrainian citizens, Volodymyr Zelensky’s war effort is crumbling on the battlefield, the economy is a disaster, and, most importantly, he is losing the vital military and economic support of the US. Various NATO leaders urge him to keep fighting, but without the US the cause is lost.
 
In the opening days of the Russian invasion, Zelensky was encouraged by key NATO leaders to not make peace but rather to carry on the fight. They boldly declared that Ukraine’s cause was their cause, and that they would support Ukraine to the bitter end.
 
His leadership was seen by some as the application of what they considered to be the only lesson of World War Two, one epitomized by the indefatigable British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Zelensky sought to channel that iconic bulldog Churchill by rallying the troops and waging a never-say-die defence of his country against a much larger foe.
 
His attempts at Churchillian doggedness won the hearts of many. And the International Churchill Society even awarded him the Sir Winston Churchill Award in 2022.
 
But no one seemed to tell him about Churchill 2.0.
 
In 1945, as the war against Germany was winding down it became clear that eastern Europe would fall under the control of the Soviet Union. And there were glaring indications that Russia had no intention of going home anytime soon.
 
What was most vexing for Churchill was that the stated purpose of initially going to war with Germany was to come to the defence of Poland. But at the end of the war Poland had simply exchanged being ruled by Nazis to that of Communists, both wickedly oppression systems. 
 
Churchill pondered what to do. He even had a war plan titled Operation Unthinkable developed, but it was quickly deemed to be too costly to wage another war to push back the Soviets.
 
Ultimately, Churchill 2.0 stood down and accepted the loss. There were no “fight on the beaches” speeches, just a grim realization and resignation that the price of a new war was simply too much. So, he conceded the loss of a nation that he initially went to war to liberate.
 
Churchill 2.0’s decision was not a sign of moral failure, but rather one shaped by realism and political prowess. Churchill 2.0 was astute and realistic enough to know the military and domestic realties he faced. He knew the horrible outcomes of going to war against the Soviet superpower. And he knew when to compromise.
 
Zelensky is in a horribly difficult situation, and I pray for him and his nation. That said, what seems to me is that if he is still seeks to emulate Churchill this time it should be Churchill 2.0.