The American edition of The New York Times, the front page of which is devoted to the coverage of the armed invasion of Ukraine by Russian invaders for the fifth day in a row , published the impressions of the inhabitants of the United States about the dirty war unleashed by the President of Russia.
The fortitude and courage of the Ukrainian people in their confrontation with the invaders do not leave indifferent honest people around the world who loudly and unequivocally condemn Putin's insane actions. This is also no small support for a desperately resisting country in its darkest days.
Common people united against a ruthless enemy
I don't remember the last time I was so touched by the courage of an entire nation as a whole. Except perhaps in 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell and several countries liberated themselves from the Soviet Union. It was a collective effort of heroic people in all the countries of the former Warsaw Pact who seized the moment to defend their independence.
But Ukrainians are different. This is one nation, which, in fact, stands alone against the superior forces of the enemy. Men and women, ordinary citizens united against the ruthless aggressor, giving him no mercy, giving in nothing, risking their lives for the sake of their families , their friends, their homes, their country.
As long as I live, I will never forget their courage. I thought I knew what courage was. And then I saw Ukraine.
Perry Perez
Sunrise, Florida.
Zelensky's courage deserves admiration
Instead of fleeing as Russian troops advance like the captain of his ship, President Volodymyr Zelensky has heroically and courageously chosen to stand firm on the side of his beloved people and country. His bravery in the face of what could have been his own death , as well as that of his family, is to be admired.
Good luck to Mr. Zelensky and all of Ukraine.
Joanne Lee Frank
Clearwater, Florida.
Ukraine inspired the understanding that we are all citizens of one world
Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine has captured the world's imagination far more than all crises . And not just because of its objective seriousness or our “connected world”. I think the pandemic has stepped up our ability to present a global catastrophe as a real possibility.
When something bad happens far away, we usually distance ourselves from it. But the crisis in Ukraine, taking place during the pandemic, seems to have captured everyone's attention. It scares us internally . This makes us feel powerless, resorting to resentment and solidarity.
How can we translate our new ability to imagine disaster into a willingness to act? How can we change our public policies and daily habits to prevent other global (and local) crises?
Ukraine inspires us to act differently . Ukraine has taught us the main thing: the understanding that we are not everyone separately, that we are citizens of one world.
Sonia Cardenas, Author, Political Science Professor, Faculty Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Trinity College
Hartford, Connecticut.
My colleague from Russia was severely disappointed in Putin, whom she voted for
One of my academic colleagues in Russia has never been in opposition to Putin. She confessed to me that she was even afraid to like posts against the war, because it could cost her her job.
But when the war broke out on February 24, she wrote me at length about her disgust at the “terrible, stunning invasion of Ukraine.”
She is not part of the intellectual or cultural elite. She even voted for Putin in 2000 and 2004 , because she believed then that “he is capable of leading Russia along a democratic path.”
But now she is appalled that Russia has become a brutal aggressor . She says her feelings are “shared by thousands.
David S. Foglesong, writer, professor of history at Rutgers University
Princeton, New Jersey .
It is this resistance that will lead to victory.
The courage of the people of Ukraine is incredible . They are ready to die for their democracy and independence.
I don't know if they will win this battle, but I do know that it is this kind of resistance that will ultimately lead to victory in the war against savage dictatorships.
I hope that we in the United States can show that kind of courage when it's needed, when we feel threatened by our Constitution and democratic principles.
I can only hope that the courage of the Ukrainian people will inspire us to defend what is so precious – freedom, truth and the rule of law.
Susan Shelton
Falmouth, Massachusetts.
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The Ukrainians are inferior to the Russians in numbers and weapons, but they are fighting for their country with all their might . Russia invaded Afghanistan in 1979 and was defeated 10 long years later.
Good luck to those in Ukraine who love their country and are ready to die defending it!
Brant Thomas
Cold Spring, New York
