NATO tolerance of Cyprus’ occupation weakens case on Ukraine

After two years of a heroic defense that cost Russia more than one-third of its active duty military, Ukraine is nearing its breaking point. It is short of both men and ammunition. 

Still the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) continues its uncompromising position on Ukraine's sovereignty. Frankly, NATO is right. The defensive Alliance considers Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea to be "illegal and illegitimate." No NATO members recognize Russia's claim to Crimea, nor does NATO recognize Russian attempts to annex Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. At the 2023 Vilnius Summit, NATO heads of state issued a communique that stated, "We do not and will never recognize Russia's illegal and illegitimate annexations, including Crimea." 

NATO also dismisses claims by both the Kremlin and its apologists that ethnic Russian Ukrainians accept Russian occupation. ...