On CNN just now, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick expressed shock and amazement, that President Zelenskyy is demanding “all the land” back. That he can’t possibly want peace if he’s demanding reparations from Russia and all the land.

Let’s be clear, Secretary Lutnick: Russia attacked Ukraine, and Russia is occupying Ukrainian land. The president of Ukraine is not demanding something outrageous, not asking the world to give him a gift. He is saying he wants a what was taken from Ukraine: a return to status quo ante, the return of their occupied lands.

If Canadian troops had bombed Albany and crossed the Niagara River to take Western New York, wouldn’t we be demanding their departure in order to stop fighting back? Of course we would. Why is it so surprising that Ukraine wants their territory returned?

Either we recognize the territorial integrity of the nations of the Earth, or it’s open season for anyone with weapons to attack their neighbors simply because they want to.