Yesterday I spoke on the phone with a long-time friend in Kyiv who I’ve known for many years. Our conversation reassured me and more importantly it seemed good for him too. He is extremely proud of our men and women who are defending Ukraine, describing how our people have become so much stronger in these past four weeks. He’s also a big fan of America – especially grateful for its help during the war but praying it continues. No-one can say now that Ukraine is not militarily ready to join NATO. And if NATO joined us in the fight against Russia, we would lead together with America.
He told me that all of Kyiv now speaks only Ukrainian. It’s amazing how things can change in such a short space of time. Only last summer, I dined in restaurants where exchanges in my native Russian were the norm.
It was so nice to hear my friend’s voice. However, the war and the physical devastation of Ukraine will require substantial reconstruction. And that’s before we talk about people rebuilding their lives. The war isn’t yet over but we have begun talking about the future.
Ukraine, although physically diminished, is growing before our eyes as both an independent and European country. It is known all over the world – perhaps even more so now – for its spirituality, perseverance and even military prowess. That’s not least because of our Cossack heritage.
But we are at risk of jumping ahead of ourselves. Firstly we must defeat the enemy, and one unlike any the world has seen since Hitler. There are too many war crimes to mention, with missiles aimed at civilians, children, and homes. What’s next? To wipe Ukrainian off the face of the earth?
The beast from Moscow could be capable of anything, be it biological, chemical or even nuclear. Human life, including that of innocents, apparently does not matter.
At a recent press conference in Brussels, U.S. President Joe Biden answered questions about Russia’s use of chemical weapons. There would be “an appropriate response”, he said. Then, during a speech in Warsaw the following day, he revealed what needs to be done – to remove Putin. How and by whom are the second and third as yet unanswered questions.
Perhaps an even more pressing question is what should the end of the war look like? Victory for Ukraine, the enemy’s retreat beyond all Ukrainian borders, surrender by Russia in the Donbas and Crimea, and integral parts of Ukrainian territory back in Ukraine’s sovereign hands. That’s what needs to happen.
Economic sanctions against Russia must continue. Moscow must become an outcast and a Pariah state. The Muscovites themselves must either kill or arrest their mentally ill leader. Muscovites don’t care whether they kill or arrest. “No man, no problem” was the mantra of the old Soviet Russia. That mantra prevails today.
Sanctions and complete isolation will press hard and the Russian empire will eventually fall. Its component nations will strive for autonomy. Russia will never be a normal country. Even the church is Stalin’s church while its people grew up in the swamps of Moscow, St. Petersburg and on Cossack bones. May they live, but if they do not change, may they rot.
There is a young generation of extremely capable people in Ukraine. But above all, every Ukrainian can and deserves a normal fruitful European life in their beloved Ukraine. They will rebuild it with Western help. But for now, we must continue to fight. We must push forward together and in one direction to victory, and after that there will be reconstruction.
Each of us has a job to do. Let’s not forget Shevchenko: “There is no other Ukraine in the world, there is no other Dnipro.”
My friend told me that there has often been a very colorful red sky in Kyiv during the evenings of late. Perhaps a sign that tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, there will be sunshine.
