Today marks 3 years since Russia shamelessly launched its invasion of Ukraine, upending the lives of millions of Ukrainians. Despite the extraordinary efforts of Ukraine, Russia still occupies more than 18% of their territory and over ten million individuals remain displaced. A confidential assessment from last year suggested that 80,000 Ukrainian soldiers had died and 40,000 had been injured, while at least 12,500 civilians had died. 

       On this dark day, we pay tribute to the loss of Ukrainian life to the hands of an aggressor, Russia.  It has been years of agony for Ukraine and for Europe stemming from the actions of Vladimir Putin and his corrupt cronies.  Ukrainians did not choose to fight this war, and Russians in their most recent elections likely did not vote for Putin, but here we are. 

       In a war that is truly a game of inches, similar to World War 1, we must not lose sight of the larger struggle against authoritarianism and autocracy. We must not become numb to the endless violence and suffering. We must not become a world that accepts this reality as normal or acceptable. And we must not forget the truth. 

      After years of support from America and its European allies, Ukraine risks being left behind by a U.S. President with no respect for justice, history, or democracy. Last This week, Donald Trump spread false claims about the war, erroneously stating that Ukraine started the war and that Volodymyr Zelensky is a dictator. These false claims, openly echoing the worst of Russian propaganda, put the free world at risk. The elevation of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence, who Ukraine has accused of spreading Russian disinformation and has been an apologist for Russia and al-Assad’s Syria in the past, puts our safety in danger. The shameful negotiations between the US and Russia excluding Ukraine and Europe run the severe risk of failing to ensure the security and stability of some of our closest allies. 

     With Putin on the march and Donald Trump and JD Vance continuing to promote a revisionist narrative and threaten our European allies, today is a sobering reminder of the stakes we face. We must get this right, though I doubt we will. Any peace must ensure the safety, security, and self-determination of the Ukrainian people and counter the brutality of Putin’s Russia. Spreading Russian propaganda and disinformation is dangerous and counterproductive.  As we ponder this tragic reminder of the cruelty and evil in the world, let’s remember to never lose hope or lose faith. The world can be a truly great place, but only if we honor our commitment to each other and our values. In the words of the brave Alexei Navalny, “You’re not allowed to give up.”