From Maia Mikhaluk in Kyiv (616th day): Just the other day I was thinking how many more books I could read if I didn’t have to spend so much time scrolling news. Of course, it’s definitely less time than we spent in the first weeks of the war, but still it is significant.
I realize now I am also spending more and more time reading about American politics as well, because what is happening there has direct impact on the future of Ukraine, on our survial. With the USA elections approaching, we can imagine how much putin is looking forward to the possible victory of one pro-putin / “anti-Ukraine-support” candidate. It would seem putin will keep the war going at least till the end of elections in the USA, hoping that Ukraine will be delivered to him on a silver platter. If not, maybe then he would have to consider ending the war. For now, he has hope, and that hope is growing by the day.
It was encouraging though to read today the press briefing by Coordinator for Strategic Communications, John Kirby:
“Now, on the topic of humanitarian aid, again, we’ve said this many, many times, but it is absolutely critical, and we know that there’s bipartisan support for that. There continues to be strong bipartisan support for supporting Ukraine as it continues to defend itself.
This is international interest. And these two issues, Ukraine and Israel, are intertwined. Putin and Hamas may be different threats, but as the President said in his primetime address a week or so ago, they both want to annihilate a neighboring democracy.
And history has taught us that when terrorists don’t pay a price, when dictators don’t pay a price, they only cause more chaos, death, and destruction. They just keep going. And the cost and the threats to the United States and to the world keep rising.
To paraphrase Winston Churchill with a little bit of my Florida upbringing, it’s like feeding the alligator, hoping that he’s going to eat you last.”
Voice of Ukraine 
2 responses to “11/2/2023 – “putin will keep the war going at least till the end of elections in the USA, hoping that Ukraine will be delivered to him on a silver platter.…””
A year ago:
Voice-of-Ukraine.com
11/2/2022 – From Kyiv
From Maia Mikhaluk in Kyiv: 251st day of ruzzian invasion. Extended blackouts are now a part of daily reality. I am trying to sort through a mixture of feelings I experience while looking at the dark tall buildings with just a few windows here and there lit up with dim candle light. In this mixture there is a concern about the next four cold months, anger towards ruzzians, frustration that a terrorist who openly commits crimes daily and bragging about it can’t be called to justice, but rather gets invited to respectable international gatherings like G20, there is sadness over all the losses and destruction that Ukraine has already suffered, there is stubbornness and determination “we will make it!” Today there is also an overwhelming tiredness, but I am sure that part is temporary. We can’t afford to feel tired, not yet. As we know, everything will be well in the end. If it is not well, it’s not the end yet.
The river of light on the road from the cars’ headlights seems even brighter amidst hushed dark silhouettes of buildings lined up along the road. Kyiv is living and breathing and fighting and working.
Today there was news that 11,304 babies had been born in Kyiv in the past 251 days and 19,699 couples got married!
LikeLike
“Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: Which keepeth truth for ever: Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: Which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners: the Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous: the Lord preserveth the strangers; He relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked He turneth upside down.
The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord.”
Psalm 146:3-10
LikeLike