The Tianjin Summit shows that Putin has succeeded to frame the invasion of Ukraine as a struggle against the West, that is, against the rich world. A considerable chunk of the world´s population, China, India, Russia and many more countries, are there, showing that Putin is far from being isolated no matter how hard the West tries to. European diplomats will blame Trump´s tariffs, his inconsistent policy in Ukraine, and his public shows of affection and admiration for Putin. The first has alienated its allies pushing them towards China and Russia and the latter showed the world that, somehow, Ukraine is a sort of emotional reaction against Putin. At the same time, Americans will blame Europe´s failure to show China and India that they need to address the contradiction between their political and cultural interests leaning towards Russia and their economic interests to maintain and increase their exports to the West. Even though both Americans and Europeans are right Putin is successfully exploiting the cracks in the long and solid alliance between America and Europe, the West has failed to show that the narrative which presents Ukraine as the eternal fight between David, the weak, Russia, against Goliath, the strong and evil empire, the west is a misrepresentation and that the true picture is that the evil and strong empire is Russia trying to oppress and prey on the weak, the rebel, Ukraine.

The West should therefore show that what is happening to Ukraine can happen to any country with a big and powerful neighbour. If the old rule-based world order is replaced by a new one where the big and powerful can just grab whatever resources and territory their military might can provide them then no country, except a few global powers, will be safe. They should also show more consistency between their declared values and their actions and show that it is possible to call out Israel for its genocide in Palestine and Hammas brutal terrorist attack in October two years ago. Finally, the West should also do whatever in their hand to dismantle the far right, cleverly financed by Putin, and show that the XXIst century world history is not that of the West against Asia or against Muslims. Fighting the far right means not only calling their lies but also fighting the increasing poverty and inequality that fuels nationalism and populism, at home and abroad.

Paul Higgins