Celebrating Ukrainian 'resilience' allows us to shirk our responsibilities

Constantly celebrating the "resilience" of Ukrainians absolves Western nations of their responsibilities, an opinion piece argues. This narrative, amplified over the past four years, risks diminishing the moral urgency required to adequately support Ukraine.

Gaetan Vannay, a security and strategic communication advisor, contends that framing Ukrainian resilience as a character trait is misleading. He asserts that it is, in fact, a desperate struggle that demands active accompaniment and support, rather than passive admiration.

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Magnifying the "resilience" of Ukrainians over the past four years allows us to shirk our responsibilities by weakening the sense of moral urgency.

Vannay points to instances like a Kyiv café owner serving coffee to emergency workers amidst the rubble of his destroyed establishment as a symbol often cited to represent this resilience. However, he suggests that such displays, while remarkable, are born of necessity in a fight for survival, not inherent fortitude alone.

The author criticizes the tendency to highlight this "resilience" after each new Russian attack, suggesting it becomes a convenient way for international observers to feel they are acknowledging Ukraine's plight without taking concrete, substantial action. This focus, he writes, shifts attention away from the necessary material and political support Ukraine requires to truly end the conflict.

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This "resilience" is not a normal character trait; it is a struggle that must be accompanied.