Let’s be Honest, Putin Saved Europe

The problem with the European Union (and Europe, at large) since at least 2014, was that it was becoming increasingly divided and polarized.

As with other corners of the Globe, populism threatened the state of our democracies. I know this as a Slovakian, where we struggle with getting rid of our ex-PM and notorious kleptocrat, Robert Fico, for over two decades now because of populism’s gripping effect on our populace.

Democracy is slow and it seems to be bad at bringing people to justice, at times. But Putin changed that. He — unintentionally…