Why Ukraine’s Fight Matters — And Why Supporting It Keeps Canada Safe

By Scott Anderson MP

In recent years, a troubling narrative has taken hold among some political commentators: a view of Ukraine filtered through Russian propaganda, portraying the country as either hopelessly corrupt or riddled with Nazis, a mere puppet dancing to the tune of Western intelligence agencies. These ideas have found surprising traction even in Western political circles, including among some of my own colleagues. But this depiction of Ukraine is not just wrong — it's deeply incoherent.

According to this narrative, Ukrainians are at once clever schemers manipulating global powers and gullible victims brainwashed into revolution and war. In truth, they are neither. Ukrainians are not masterminds of global manipulation, nor are they passive pawns. They are, like people in any democracy, choosing their future — and doing so under the most intense pressure imaginable.

The NATO Myth

A particularly persistent myth is that NATO is “expanding eastward” as though it were a creeping empire. But NATO is not a conquering power — it is a defensive alliance, made up of sovereign states who choose to join it for collective security. NATO does not annex countries; it accepts willing applicants, and only when all current members agree. The notion that the CIA or some other Western force is orchestrating NATO enlargement behind the scenes is fantasy.

Countries request to join NATO not because they are duped, but because they fear Russian aggression. Sweden, famously neutral for over 200 years, did not abandon neutrality lightly — it did so because the Russian invasion of Ukraine changed the calculus. Ukraine has likewise long expressed interest in NATO membership, but cannot join during an active war, as the alliance's terms would require full military engagement from all members — something NATO has rightly avoided to prevent direct war with a nuclear power.

NATO Membership: Constraint as Much as Protection

Being a NATO member isn’t a blank cheque for military adventurism. Membership assures protection, yes, but also imposes significant constraints on what a country can do independently. France remained outside NATO's integrated command structure for decades for precisely this reason. If Ukraine were to join NATO after the war, it would gain protection — but also be bound to the alliance’s rules, preventing unilateral retaliation against Russia. That structure, paradoxically, would help stabilize the region.

Why This War Isn’t Abstract for Canada

Some Canadians might feel that Ukraine’s struggle is distant, or that it doesn’t directly affect us. That would be a dangerous miscalculation.

Ukraine is not just fighting for its own sovereignty — it is one of the pressure points in a broader geopolitical landscape that includes the Middle East and the South China Sea. Of these three flashpoints, Ukraine is the one most relevant to Canada, especially when it comes to our northern sovereignty.

Russia has long expressed interest in asserting control over the Arctic — a region Canada claims as its own. The more resources Russia pours into Ukraine, the fewer it has to push its ambitions in the North. A weakened, economically damaged Russia is far less likely to challenge Canada’s Arctic sovereignty. Supporting Ukraine, then, directly contributes to Canadian national security.

Furthermore, with increasing unpredictability in U.S. foreign policy, Canada cannot afford to rely solely on American resolve. Bolstering Ukraine also bolsters Canada’s own standing and security.

Putin’s Cornered Gamble

Vladimir Putin now finds himself in a trap of his own making. He cannot end this war without a victory — doing so would destroy his political career and possibly his life. But victory is no longer achievable. The war has drained Russia militarily and economically. Even if Putin somehow captures more territory, the cost to Russia will be catastrophic. There is no good ending for him, only a slow decline or a sudden collapse. The longer the war continues, the weaker Russia becomes — and the safer the rest of us are.

On the Ground in Ukraine

I’ve seen with my own eyes the strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people. I’ve walked streets that were later bombed by Russian glide bombs. I’ve seen Russian-speaking Ukrainians — the very people Putin claims to be “liberating” — proudly waving Ukrainian flags and mocking the Russian leader with his image printed on toilet paper.

And I’ve witnessed how the Ukrainian armed forces have defied the odds. They are outgunned, outmanned, and undersupplied — and yet, they win. They’ve crippled Russian air power, chased the once-proud Black Sea fleet into hiding, and struck deep into Russian territory with daring attacks that defy expectation. These victories are not simply the result of Western weapons. They are the result of Ukrainian determination, innovation, and courage.

Why Ukraine Must Win

There’s a growing sense — even among well-informed observers — that Ukraine is quietly winning this war. If so, it’s not just a victory for Ukraine, but a victory for all democracies. And it's a victory for Canada, too.

Because when Ukraine holds, the entire rules-based international order holds with it. Russia's defeat would reverberate far beyond Europe — to Beijing, Tehran, and Pyongyang. It would affirm that aggressors cannot redraw borders with tanks. That’s a message the world desperately needs right now.

Canada cannot afford to be indifferent. Helping Ukraine is not charity. It's not about politics. It's about protecting our own future, upholding democratic principles, and ensuring the world we leave to the next generation is safer than the one we inherited.

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Mr Anderson is a member of the Canadian Federal Parliament for the Riding of Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee, and sits with the caucus of the Conservative Party of Canada. He is also a member of the Canadian Parliament's Standing Committee on National Defence.