Arming a geopolitical foe is a grave mistake, especially one led by a cunning and utterly amoral character like Vladimir Putin. However, NATO member France is on the verge of selling Putin’s Russian regime two highly capable Mistral amphibious assault ships. The first warship, the Vladivostok, is almost ready for delivery. The second, ironically named the Sevastopol (Crimea‘s chief seaport), is under construction. Unfortunately, the two warships are ideal naval platforms for landing tanks and marines on Ukraine‘s Black Sea coast.

Russia, while led by the likes of Putin, is a foe of the United States, NATO and the European Union. The 2014 invasion and annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula confirmed Putin intends to recover former Soviet territory. He publicly laments the USSR‘s collapse.