In times of war, accepting that life will never be the same again is one of the hardest things to do. It’s not just about the losses; it’s about realizing that even after the war ends, our old way of life won’t return. Yes, there will be rebuilding, but things will be different. This understanding is crucial for survival.
The most important thing in war is to conquer fear. It’s not about ignoring safety but having the courage to make tough decisions, act boldly, and not be afraid of imagined consequences.
Ukraine Soldiers (Credits: Responsible Statecraft)
We in Ukraine have faced this fear head-on. It has come at a great cost, often the highest price. Yet, we don’t understand why our partners in the democratic world can’t see that we mustn’t fear the aggressor and that there’s no going back to business as usual.
The Russian dictator thrives on fear and weakness. When the U.S. Congress hesitated on aid to Ukraine, Russia launched a massive missile attack on our energy infrastructure, causing critical damage.
Our city of Kharkiv faces missile and drone strikes daily, with power stations destroyed, and it will take years to rebuild. Despite this, we’ve learned that the Kremlin’s goals regarding Ukraine remain unchanged: complete capitulation and absorption by Russia.
Russia has used every weapon against us except nuclear ones. The damage to our country, people, and environment has reached critical levels. Everything Putin’s regime does is a result of the weak response from the free world. Russia acts like a schoolyard bully, and only strong action will stop it.
Ukraine Soldiers (Credits: Al Jazeera)
The U.S. and allies must provide Ukraine with the weapons and support needed to defend ourselves. We welcome initiatives like the “Restoring Justice for Ukraine” declaration but have concerns about the effectiveness of sanctions. Despite international agreements, Russia continues to evade sanctions and trade with impunity.
It’s clear that we can’t return to how things were before. The democratic world’s values and way of life are at stake. We need decisive actions, perhaps even more radical than before. As General Valerii Zaluzhnyi wrote on the Ukrainian Flag, “We needed peace earlier. Now we need victory.”
This victory isn’t just for Ukraine; it’s for the entire free world. It’s time for the world to change its strategy from helping Ukraine fight to letting Ukraine win.
