100 days of Russia-Ukraine war |
Opinion
by Vasyl Bodnar Jun 04, 2022 12:05 am
Today marks 100 days of the war. Everything has changed in our
country since Feb, 24. And literally, every day now is a day of
maintaining protection for us. Protection of all our people,
children and future. Protection of a free country where every
child can, when he or she grows up, live the life he or she wants,
without coercion and oppression.
Despite the low expectations of the outside world of the
Ukrainian ability to defend itself at the beginning of the war,
Ukraine and its people have been fighting a real people's war for
their freedom, identity and right to exist for 100 days already,
showing unprecedented courage and resistance.
Itis obvious that Russia is preparing for a long-term war,
constantly replenishing its occupation forces. Ukraine, with the
support of our partners, will fight as long as it is necessary to
win. The cease-fire in itself cannot be an objective: we will strive
for the withdrawal of Russian troops. For Ukraine, it is a nationalliberation war for the restoration of sovereignty and territorial
integrity as well as the liberation of the occupied territories. It is
our war of independence.
Despite Russia surpassing Ukraine in military equipment and
personnel, Ukrainian defenders have managed to liberate the
Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions and continue to bravely hold
the line in Donbass. However, the situation there is very difficult.
Everyone sees what Russia brings to Ukraine and what it
potentially might bring to other countries: total contempt for
individuals, for entire nations. The Russian state despises even
its own citizens so much that it does not understand the value
of human life at all. Russian soldiers kill and die themselves as
if they were not people but just dust. Dust under the feet of the
owners of Russia.
The principles of our lives are completely different. And
although life has changed with the onset of war, our principles
remain the same. Every person matters. This is the main thing
that distinguishes us from the occupiers.
During the time of the Russian full-scale invasion, 689 children
were injured as a result of the occupiers’ attacks. And these are
only those we know about. We do not yet have all the
information from the territory that is currently occupied. But
from what is known today, 446 children have been injured, 243
children have died and 139 are missing.
About 12 million of our citizens have been forced to flee their
homes due to the war. More than 5 million went abroad. And the
vast majority of them are women with children. We will do
everything so that they can return home to Ukraine.Russia is also pursuing a consistent criminal policy of deporting
our people by forcibly deporting both adults and children. This is
one of Russia's most heinous war crimes. In total, more than
200,000 Ukrainian children have been deported so far. These
include orphans from orphanages, children with parents and
children separated from their families.
The Russian state disperses these people on its territory, settles
our citizens, in particular, in remote regions. The purpose of this
criminal policy is not just to steal people but to make deportees
forget about Ukraine and not be able to return.
But we must find a solution to this challenge as well and ensure
that all those who killed, tortured or deported Ukrainians are
held accountable.
The inevitability of punishment is a principle that Ukraine will
definitely teach Russia. But first of all, we must teach it on the
battlefield that Ukraine will not be conquered, that our people
will not surrender, and our children will not become the property
of the occupiers.
We share Turkey's approach of “peace in the region, peace in the
world,’ and we want peace in our country, a safe life for our
children without missiles over their heads. Russia wants to
continue hostilities and is far from ending this war.
It is a pity to hear the Russian narratives among the Turkish
people that the war in Ukraine is the war of the third powers. |
would like to say that the Ukrainians are fighting against one of
the world's largest armies for our territories and the right to
choose our future path of development. Understanding the
threats that Russia poses to all humankind, civilized countries
around the world are trying to help us protect our common
values and ourselves.Throughout our history of national liberation movements
against Russia, Ukraine has always sought allies, including, even
now, actively cooperating with Turkey and other countries.
Until 2014, Ukraine adhered to neutrality in its policy. We see
how it ended with the occupation of Crimea and the war in
Donbass. Despite our numerous attempts and ongoing efforts
to finish the war through diplomatic means, we have no chance
but to speak with Russians in the language they understand
much better: the language of power.
Taking into account all the crimes committed by the Russian
army in Ukraine, continuing negotiations with Russia is a
difficult task. During the talks in Istanbul, we proposed a new
system of security guarantees, which is currently being
discussed with possible guarantor states. But the answer from
Russia was brutal — new massacres, new attacks and new
demands.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy rightly stresses that
in order to win, freedom must be armed better than tyranny. The
main pillars for our victory that partners and allies can ensure
remain unchanged are maximum sanction pressure on Russia,
more swift heavy weapons deliveries to Ukraine and clarity on
Ukraine's European future. Cooperation with Turkey in the
defense sphere is important to strengthen our capabilities to
confront Russia.
The war against Ukraine is a manifestation of imperial
chauvinism and neo-colonialism in which Russia is trying to
reinstall the Soviet Union, copying its defiant behavior both in
the international arena and implementing Soviet practices in
Russian everyday life. The world must support Ukraine because
the future of Europe depends on its victory; otherwise,
permissiveness, impunity and (nuclear) blackmail will set newambitions for revisionist autocratic regimes in the world. Russia
is blocking the seaports of Ukraine, through which grain is
exported to world markets. Ukrainian farmers are actually
working under missile fire to feed the world. Without Ukrainian
grain, the world is threatened by famine. Hunger means political
instability and potentially a new refugee crisis. The world must
ensure freedom of navigation in the Black Sea to prevent chaos.
Russia bears full responsibility for the unfolding global food
crisis, which runs the risk of transforming into a multiyear one if
solutions are not be found in the coming weeks. Even finding
itself in the circumstances of fighting against a full-scale war of
aggression, Ukraine is working intensively with the United
Nations and international partners to find solutions to ensure
global food security.
The Turkish initiatives to create a harmonious economic,
transport, humanitarian and security environment in the Black
Sea are under threat due to the Russian blockade of Ukraine. We
look forward to active cooperation with our Turkish partners in
ensuring the export of Ukrainian agricultural products. Ukraine
is ready to resume exports to Turkey. We need to consolidate all
our efforts to ensure free trade in the Black Sea.
Turkey has met with Russia on different sides of the barricades
throughout history. The essence and face of the Russian
Federation are very well known in Turkey. It is not for nothing
that there is still a proverb in Turkey saying: "It is not possible to
make a usable leather from a bear skin just like it's impossible
to make friends with an enemy."
Now for the whole world, Russia is a virus that is worse than
COVID-19. And the whole world is looking for an effective
vaccine against this virus to defeat it once and for all. By theway, Turkey has had a very successful experience in fighting
COVID-19. We really hope that this time Turkey will help to
overcome this “virus” too.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Turkey
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