Even if the U.S. and other NATO countries were pressing to admit Ukraine to Nato – which isn’t the case – does it follow that such an action gives Putin the green light to invade the Ukraine. I don’t think so, but more than a few people on the left make this argument either explicitly or by inference.

Sustained opposition and meaured sanctions against Russia should be coupled a sustained search for diplomatic-political solutions to the tragic and unnecessary outbreak of war in Ukraine. The immediate cessation of fighting, speedy withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, and a recognition of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as an acknowlegement of the legitimate security concerns of the Russian people – not just Putin – to the expansion of Nato should constitute the framework of a settlement.

Such a settlement will likely give the autocratic and imperal minded Putin some bounce within Russia and enhance his reputation among autocrats world wide in the near term. But it could also limit his room for maneuver and territorial aggression going forward.

In the longer term, this crisis brings to the surface once again the imperative of constructing a new security architecture in Europe and worldwide, resting on peaceful coexistence, multi-level cooperation, and a scaling back of competing blocs and the weapons of war – chief among them nuclear missiles.

In both cases, the success of these efforts will depend not solely on political leaders, but also the invention of peoples here and across the globe demanding a peaceful and liveable world.

I just read Putin’s speech announcing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Like any good demagogue, Trump comes to mind, he utilizes real as well as imagined grievences and patriotic allusions to legitimize his exceeding dangerous decision to invade a sovereign country, while concealing his own empire buidling desires and autocratic disposition. He also made reference to nuclear weapons.

We are living through a very dangerous moment.

Putin isn’t simply a reactive and defensive actor on the world stage. His stated ambition is to restore the Russian empire. Moreover, he is arguably the foremost leader of a growing worldwide autocratic, fascist like movement. It isn’t a coincidence that Trump and other leaders of like mind here and abroad admire him. This isn’t an argument to turn the tempature up in an already explosive conflagration or step back from serious negotiations. Just the opposite. But it should figure into how we understand Putin – his actions and aims.

If you listen to some people and publications on the left, Ukraine is dominated by the extreme right and fascists. If there are democratic forces and a democratic movement, they are found on the margins – without influence or representation.

While the right wing in Ukraine is a matter of concern, it isn’t anywhere near as powerful as the right wing extremists led by Putin in Russia. In recent polling before scheduled elections in May, the right wing extremist parties – fascist if you like – were polling in single digits.