As Russian President Vladimir Putin’s criminal war nears its most crucial phase, here are the five key tests Ukraine and its allies around the world must pass.

Some have immediate consequences, while others can last a lifetime. They all have one thing in common: they are essential to turn Putin’s authoritarian murderous threat into an historic chance for civilized humanity to create a better world.

• Are Ukraine’s closest friends in Europe and North America able to not only keep but also reinforce their unity and solidarity against Putin’s increasing brutality? Global energy prices inflation risingHow can Ukraine’s allies avoid the inevitable fatigue in democracies while remaining focused on what looks like a very distant threat?
• Are Ukraine’s arms vendors willing to continue providing Kyiv greater military capability? despite Moscow’s threats of escalation, including the possible use of battlefield nukes. This improved weaponry allows you to: can Ukrainian troops not only hold but retakeRussian troops have occupied their sovereign territory.
• Can NATO overcome Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s opposition — and potentially that of others — to imminent Finnish and Swedish application for allied membership? It can provide protection status to Finland and Sweden until full membership, or accelerate the process. Is the U.S. Senate able to ratify the NATO membership of Finland and Swedish before the summer breaks, which would create the vital momentum.
• Ukraine and its close friends can be more effective in establishing the facts that Putin was solely responsible of this unprovoked, premeditated war. They need to reach more Russians so they can understand why Putin started a war against their will.
• Can the U.S., its allies, and global partners strategically defeat Putin? And can they sufficiently weaken Russian military capabilities so that Moscow cannot continue or replicate the conflict elsewhere in Ukraine? NATO and its international partners can be strengthened enough to deter such a threat from the future.

This is a lengthy list and this is just the beginning.

Bottom line: Unanticipated Ukrainian resilience. resourcefulness. patriotism. and bravery. This has allowed the international community to both save Ukraine as well as reverse it. years of democratic drift and authoritarian resurgence.

 If one is to avoid having the rule-of-the jungle replace rule-of-law, now is the time to act. 

As President George H.W. Bush’s dream, the transatlantic community will need to embrace Russia in the coming years. Bush’s vision of “a Europe Whole and Free.” You should be thinking about how you can make this happen. For now however, Ukraine’s friends must stop Putin’s perverse, revanchist obsession with “restoring” some false idea of “the future.”ancient RusYou can do it by any means you need.

This week has shown that there is a positive trend towards this goal.

Finland and Sweden moved toward NATO membershipUnited Kingdom tightened sanctionsPutin was able to break through the walls of secrecy that surrounded his family, and rumoured girlfriend. Russian troops were seen appearing to be retreating from Ukraine’s second-largest city KharkivThe Ukrainian army began to mobilize in the spring of 2004. launching a counter-offensiveThe eastern city of Izyum is targeted by Russian supplies to the Donbass region.

Finland and Sweden in the past week moved closer toward NATO membership applicationsThis should be made official within the next few days. 

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and President Sauli Naiisto said that Finland must immediately apply to NATO membership. statementIt was almost certain that Finland would follow other steps on Thursday to secure its 810-mile border from Russia. NATO membership will strengthen Finland’s security. Finland, as a NATO member, would help strengthen the whole defense alliance.

All Swedish parties submitted a revised assessment on Friday of the security situation in their area. Sixteen of the eight parties voted in favor of NATO membership following 200 years’ neutrality. The Swedish government is expected to take the formal decision to apply for NATO membership on Monday.  

For the misguided voices that still claim NATO membership destabilizes instead of secures a peaceful Europe, speak to officials from these countries. They have witnessed three Baltic member NATO stay secure while Russia overran Ukraine (a non-NATO) and they can help you.

The NATO leader representing Turkey is Erdogan, the Turkish president. greatest oppositionBased on Turkey’s claims that Sweden is the long-standing refugee of Kurdish terrorists, both Finland and Sweden have so far agreed to enlargement. Erdogan’s words suggest that Erdogan is a negotiating tactic rather than an immovable object.

“We follow developments concerning Sweden and Finland. But we don’t have a positive outlook.” Erdogan said. “At this stage, it’s not possible to view it positively.”

Putin’s failed war in Ukraine has led to global shifts beyond Finland and Sweden.

Mario Draghi, the Italian Prime Minister was awarded the Distinguished Leadership Award by Atlantic Council. saidRussia’s invading of Ukraine has “unleashed a new paradigm in geopolitics.”

Draghi added, “It strengthened the ties among the European Union, the United States and isolated Moscow, raised serious questions for China.” Although these developments are ongoing, there is one certainty: they will be with us for a very long time.

He said, “We should continue to support and encourage the Ukrainians’ bravery as they fight for our freedom and safety.” The need for peace should not be denied, he said. However, he added that it would be up to the Ukrainians to determine the terms of peace.

Putin has been preparing his troops to attack the Soviet Union since last February 24, when he began to make clear historical nature threats. Draghi stated that now the possibilities are greater.

He stated that the war in Ukraine had the potential to unite the European Union. It is important to remember that the current moment has great urgency and the immense challenge ahead. We must act now. This is Europe’s moment. It is not difficult to see the choices facing Europe. You can either be the master of your own fate or you can slave to others’ decisions.

Draghi claims that Draghi is optimistic because Europe has to tackle the problem with its own efforts, and is supported by “the eternal bond” of Europeans-U.S. relations.”

Now, the test is to see if Ukraine’s current unity and momentum can stand up against Putin’s increasing brutality and predisposition toward fatigue.  

— Frederick Kempe is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Atlantic Council.