Five Things: The Russian War on Ukraine

One year ago Russia started the invasion of Ukraine. Here are five articles you should read about this war.

I grew up 10 kilometers away from the border to East Germany during the Cold War. When Gorbatchev introduced Glasnost and Perestroika in the Soviet Union, I had hopes for an end of the Cold War and I was amazed when it really happened. We all hoped Russia would go on a journey to become a true democracy. Well, we know all about the plot-twist by now. Germany still had a romantic notion about a peaceful Russia, even after the war in Chechnya, in Georgia and even after Russia started the war in Ukraine and claimed Crimea in 2014.

A year ago everything changed and there is a war raging in the middle of Europe, again. Europe is supporting Ukraine as best as we can, but after years of dismantling the armies and focusing more on terrorist threats, there is not much we can send, as we don’t have a stockpile of functioning weapons or even ammunition. (I still find it “fascinating” that Switzerland refuses to deliver the ammunition it produced for the German army, because as a neutral country that don’t want that ammunition to be sent to Ukraine. And who decided that just in time production for ammunition would be a good idea?)

This war changed the West, it changed NATO and it changed the EU. There is now a newfound common understanding of our shared interests and how we can protect them. But first and foremost, there is a huge support for the Ukraine in the West. Poland has taken in more than 1.5 mio people from the Ukraine, Germany well over 1 mio, but Estonia and the Czech Republic have taken in the biggest amount of refugees when compared with their country’s respective size.

Let’s hope this war is over soon. This will only happen if Russia loses. So we need to send weapons and ammunition. It is as simple as that. Many more people will die until Putin will stop the war. And then negotiations about peace can start. Only Putin can stop this barbaric war.

The West tried to isolate Russia. It didn’t work.

This is a really good article outlining how the world looks at the war in Ukraine and how the individual countries stick to sanctions and give military aid to Ukraine - or neglect to do so. (New York Times)

Here's How Ukraine Could Retake Crimea

Obviously, Crimea is not Russian, but part of Ukraine. So the big question is how Ukraine can push back the Russian forces in order to reclaim Crimea. The war in Ukraine started in 2014 when Russia decided to take Crimea, we should not forget this. (Politico)

They risk it all to cover war in Ukraine. Are people still watching?

Journalists are doing an amazing job reporting from Ukraine and from Russia, trying to avoid the pitfalls of propaganda and trying to paint a clear picture of what is going on. Their work is so important right now. (Washington Post)

How do you sneak a US president into a warzone without anyone noticing?

This is truly remarkable. And it shows how US politicians really understood the power of images. Biden did the right thing and stole Putin’s show - and at the same time made sure the whole world understands how much the West is backing Ukraine in this war. (Associated Press)

A Google Street View replica shows the devastating impact of war in Ukraine

This is a really impressive art project that shows the Street View of cities in Ukraine and allows you to see all the destroyed civilian buildings. It brings the war much closer. (The Drum)