Commentary

As the number of dead and severely wounded in the Russian – Ukrainian war surpasses a million souls; as the body count in the latest Israeli – Palestinian war hits five digits; as China threatens Taiwan; and as Houthis attack Red Sea shipping, polite table talk often veers to the impolite subject of international politics. Yet the resultant flow of words easily becomes lost in a fog of imprecision, ambivalence and conflicting definitions. It is possible to argue with someone with whom you totally agree, only because of a different understanding of terms. To a scientist, mathematician, or engineer this state of affairs is unacceptable. A theorem, or equation is but a meaningless waste of ink unless and until the terms are defined. F=ma has meaning only if F is defined as force, m as mass and a as acceleration. Any ambiguity or ambivalence in such matters results in failure, error or...

Ukraine’s campaign against the Moscow-affiliated Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC-MP) is not a violation of religious liberty—it is a wartime imperative. The UOC-MP, operating under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), is a Kremlin-aligned entity that has aided Russia’s invasion, spread propaganda, and harbored agents of the enemy. This is not speculation. It is documented fact. As Russia wages its genocidal war, Ukraine is defending its people from an internal fifth column. Evidence of Collaboration: Not Alleged—Proven Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has published damning evidence collected during raids on UOC-MP churches and monasteries. In a statement from December 2022, the SBU confirmed the discovery of: Russian passports, forged...

The Trump-Rubio administration has quietly terminated funding for efforts to track and rescue Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, despite mounting evidence that thousands remain unlawfully detained in Russian-controlled territories. This decision not only weakens international accountability for war crimes but also signals a dangerous shift in U.S. foreign policy—one that prioritizes appeasement over justice. From Nazi Crimes to Russian War Crimes The forced abduction of children during wartime is not a new crime. It was a defining charge in the RuSHA Trial, one of the Nuremberg Trials following World War II, where Nazi officials were convicted for kidnapping children from ...

It is surprising how inconsistent people can be. When we say A, we usually do not think that we need to pronounce B as well. We approach a social fact as though it were isolated, torn from life and having no consequence. And today we honor the memory of Shevchenko or at least we respond to its celebration. But at the same time — we draw no conclusions. Not only do we not listen to the words that were read, but often even in print it cannot be seen that anyone gave any thought to that which the recognition of this anniversary demands of us. It can only be one of two things: either...

In a powerful address to the German Bundestag during the annual Holocaust remembrance ceremony, 88-year-old Holocaust survivor Roman Schwarzman drew stark parallels between his experiences during World War II and Russia’s current aggression against Ukraine, delivering a plea for continued support of his homeland. “Back then, Hitler wanted to kill me because I am Jewish. Now Putin is trying to kill me because I am Ukrainian,” Schwarzman declared in one of the most poignant moments of his speech, highlighting the tragic symmetry of his life experiences. The survivor of...

Russian historian Botakoz Kassymbekova asserts that Russia’s colonial and authoritarian identity is structurally entrenched, resisting reform or democratization. She highlights how the country’s imperial system disproportionately burdens ethnic minorities and its “national republics,” while fostering privileges for metropolitan Russians, perpetuating inequality and unrest. Russia’s deep-rooted colonialism and imperial identity are not reformable, argues Botakoz Kassymbekova, a historian specializing in Eastern European studies at the University of Zurich. Speaking about Russia’s persistent dominance over its ethnic minorities, Kassymbekova emphasized that...

Whenever I come to Ukraine, I find words that have lost their essence elsewhere swell again with meaning. The fight for “freedom” is not a pretentious slogan here, but just what you do every day. “Sovereignty” is not a slippery abstraction, but the difference between deciding your own fate or having it decreed in Moscow. It’s also in Ukraine that one realises that “freedom” and “sovereignty” exist in a collaborative relationship with others. Ukraine is now defending its neighbours’ freedom from an advancing Russia. Kyiv’s resistance is benefiting Taiwan’s freedom, too. Meanwhile, without help – especially from America – Ukraine would still...

While the world celebrated the holidays, Ukraine continued to endure unrelenting bombardment, a stark reminder of the ongoing horrors inflicted by Russia’s war of aggression and genocide. As we enter the new year, Ukraine faces not just Russia but the axis of evil, including North Korean troops and Chinese and Iranian weapons that prop up the Kremlin’s war machine. An impending betrayal compounds this precarious fight: in mere weeks, the United States is poised to abandon its commitments, ceasing to be a reliable ally for Ukraine. This grim reality highlights a bitter...

Over the past 50 years, Russia has abused Ukraine and Europe’s dependence on gas supplies and transit revenues to extort political concessions, spread corruption, and exert malign influence. It cut off exports on numerous occasions, triggering disruption across Europe and freezing millions of consumers during exceptionally harsh winters. Since 2022, it has waged not just a full-scale hot war against Ukraine but also sought to undermine Western support for Kyiv by weaponizing gas exports and generating an energy supply crunch of unprecedented proportions across Europe. Furthermore, the Russian Federation has extended...

Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian targets have increased in frequency in the week since the U.S. election, killing civilians and destroying another dam. Russian troops continued to make incremental gains toward the city of Pokrovsk. The Russian army is preparing a new offensive, this time using North Korean troops. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on his election but implied that he would have discussions only if the U.S. initiates talks, drops its sanctions, and refuses to offer any further support for Ukraine—accepting, in other words, a Russian victory. Meanwhile, Russian state television welcomed news of the election by gleefully showing nude photographs of Melania Trump on the country’s most-watched channel. How will the...