Everything goes to hell - The Turks attack the Greeks?

Is that perception justified? And whether leaving Ukraine could turn out to be one of the biggest strategic mistakes in the modern history of the USA, are the questions to which the Ukrainian journalist Andrew Novitsky offered an answer.

Ukrainian Armed Forces

Tanjug/AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka

According to him, Ukraine today has the largest army in Europe. The number of soldiers is estimated to be between 700,000 and one million - more than the combined forces of France, Germany, Spain and Great Britain.

But Ukraine's real advantage goes beyond mere numbers. It is also the only European army with extensive, modern battlefield experience.

Ukrainian forces have not only learned to operate Western weapons – they have used them in actual combat and understand firsthand which systems work effectively and which have critical flaws.

Unlike the NATO armies, whose doctrines are built on simulations and limited operations, Ukraine has tested these strategies in a full-scale war against the Alliance's biggest threat: Russia, Novitsky points out.

"If Ukraine falls, all that knowledge, technology and combat expertise could be absorbed by Russia. The Kremlin would not only seize territory - it would gain access to Europe's strongest military in combat. This would create a new militarized superpower with a combined force of over two million soldiers," he said.

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Defense industrial power

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During the past three years of war, both Ukraine and Russia have significantly expanded their defense industries.

According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, the country has become the world's largest producer of combat drones, overtaking even China.

President Volodymyr Zelensky also announced that Ukraine has completed the development of its own ballistic missile and is actively working on a domestic equivalent of the Patriot air defense system.

This rapid growth of Ukraine's defense sector is occurring in the midst of a full-scale war. At the same time, Russia claims that it now produces three times more missiles than the US and Europe combined.

If the Kremlin takes control of Ukraine, it will gain access to its advanced military technologies, unique innovations and manufacturing capabilities. These include major defense firms such as Antonov and Motor Sich, as well as private companies specializing in naval drones, strike drones, electronic warfare systems, howitzers and armored vehicles.

If these assets fall into Russian hands, they could dramatically improve Moscow's military-industrial complex - especially in missile production.

Natural resources

Ukraine has the largest reserves of uranium and lithium in Europe, making it a key player in the energy technology market in the region. In addition, its significant oil and gas deposits further increase its strategic importance.

But Ukraine's wealth is not limited to its natural resources. Known as "the breadbasket of Europe", it is one of the world's leading agricultural producers and the largest exporter of grain to Europe and Africa. In an era of growing global crisis, its role in food security cannot be overestimated.

If occupied, these resources would fall under the control of the Kremlin. Russia, which has long used energy as a geopolitical weapon, would gain another powerful tool – manipulation of the food supply.

Moscow's expansionist ambitions could turn it not only into an energy monopolist, but also into a dominant force in global food markets, capable of weaponizing hunger as an instrument of influence.

Political change

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If Russia triumphs in Ukraine, the global balance of power will change dramatically.

In addition, Russia would increase its support for pro-Kremlin political forces across the continent.

Far-right movements in Germany, Marine Le Pen's party in France, and Russian-backed lobbyists in Italy and Great Britain - Moscow has long wielded influence in Europe, and these voices would only grow louder and more aggressive.

But the consequences will not stop at Europe's borders.

The defeat of Ukraine would deal a devastating blow to America's credibility as the primary guarantor of security in the world.

Key US allies, including South Korea and Japan, may begin to question Washington's reliability and look for alternative ways to ensure their own security.

This could accelerate the formation of new military alliances - or even force some nations to reconsider their stance on nuclear proliferation, further destabilizing the global balance of power.

The war in Ukraine is not just another regional conflict. It is a decisive moment that will determine the future of the international security order.

The rise of dictatorships

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If Russia is allowed to annex Ukraine without consequence, it will set a dangerous precedent for authoritarian regimes around the world, ushering in a new era of global instability. A weak response from the West would signal that international law is no longer an obstacle to expansionist ambitions.

What would then prevent Turkey from exerting military pressure on Greece or expanding its influence in Africa? Why wouldn't China take the opportunity to attack Taiwan or Iran to strike Israel? What would prevent India and Pakistan from going into open conflict? A world where borders no longer matter will quickly descend into chaos, making an arms race inevitable.

The US and its allies now face a critical choice: act decisively and uphold global security, or allow the international order to collapse. This is not the time for half-measures or political expediency - not only easy decisions are needed, but correct ones. Today's elections will shape not only the future of Ukraine, but also long-term stability and peace in the world, Novitsky pointed out.