Dear Matthew, you are definitely marching with us. From wherever you are. And soon you will be physically marching in the streets of Kyiv with all of us because our "Parade of Victory" will be a celebration for the entire free world not only for Ukraine. 💙💛
You matter. Your words matter. Ukraine matters. Dignity matters. Through your words, you climb through the muck every day to the heart of the matter - love, dignity, and commitment will see you through. Thank you for holding our hands in this journey. It is we who should be helping you. I am humbled by your words.
To me there is nothing more moving than the sea of flags in Kyiv standing for your losses. Or the way that people kneel and throw flowers in front of funeral processions. Those simple deeply human acts of grief and respect are far more powerful than any military parade.
Dear Lisa, thank you so much for your words and for your reminders. One image that will never leave my memory is in the day of the invasion, February 24 of 2022, where we were absolutely shocked about everything, someone had the idea to replace all the advertisement screen billboards of Kyiv with an image of Ukrainian flags waving. That was so insanely shocking, sad, sublime, so many things at the same time. We were so used to that sea of visual pollution of advertisements and suddenly, our flags waving, like saying "Ukrainians, please, no matter what happens, never surrender". You reminded me of that when you mentioned sea of flags in Kyiv. 💙💛
Viktor - the whole war and invasion have been so tragic. I have two dear friends who used to go to Ukraine every year. It is so hard to see the buildings flattened, lives destroyed. I can't imagine how people are keeping their spirits up -especially since trump pulled all the funding. Grateful for Warren Buffet who donated $500 million to Ukraine. I was ready to send my taxes there, but alas, didn't have any this year or I would have! Im sorry that people here were stupid enough to elect trump. He is an idiot who has no common sense by getting money for. himself. If I COULD change anything, it would be that he'd be in jail. Although I'm not hopeful for the current VP - also ignorant and bull headed but in some ways as bad if not worse than trump. I certainly wouldn't want to see Michael Johnson in there either - another MAGA who won't look at reality. I'm hopeful congress will pass money of Ukraine in this next budget. I admire the Ukrainian people and am hoping for the best. Zelensky is right to call a charade, a charade - like the last sense fire he promised for 3 days. Putin is just evil. I've read two different articles by two different CIA/KGB people who say trump was selected as an agent in 1987, He had a name - Krasnov. I totally believe it! It's sad for me and I appreciate your courtesy and responses.
Hi Viktor I didn’t know about this but what an incredible thing to think to do in the midst of an unbelievable day. I will add to your list of “s” words: shocking, sad, sublime but also symbolic and strength. This is the place I most want to visit when I finally am able to meet my friends in Kyiv in person. I owe the people represented by each of those flags so much for keeping my friends alive. And you alive too.
Thank you dear Tenyce. The truth is almost never the easiest path to choose and to walk, but it's always the right one. And if it hurts, it's a signal that it doesnt kill us, so we must proceed! 💙💛
Viktor, I promise (something I rarely do) that I will not forget. As long as you keep writing, Ukraine keeps fighting, if I am still living, I will be here. And so will many, many others: we will not forget.
Dear Alia, if there's one reason for explain why I will keep writing, is because I know I have the best readers in the world like you, and everytime I write that I must remember everyone not to forget Ukraine, I secretly know that this will be something very difficult to happen at least to you and so many of our friends here. So every time when I beg people not to forget Ukraine, please take it "with a grain of salt" as said, and consider that a general request instead of a individual "pledge" (because I know your heart has a special and "unalienable" place for Ukraine!) 💙💛
Viktor, I know you weren’t demanding that we pledge ourselves to you. I chose to make my promise out of my regard and care for you. You keep us aware of the war’s real effects on people. You keep us aware of what the world looks like to Ukrainian people today. You keep us from forgetting and turning away because you share your humanity, your personal experience with us. You are real, you matter, and I will not turn away.
Thank you very much. My readers are the most beautiful in the world so they deserve all possible beauty in the world, or at least the beauty we have in Ukraine! 💙💛
Well said. With so much fascism emanating from the mouths of our elected officials and fellow Americans, it’s uplifting to see another democracy united in a just cause. So many of us have lost our way. Ukrainians now are the beacon for freedom and liberty. You show us there is still something to aspire to and fight for. Thank you.
Thank you very much, there are so many times along our history that the United States of America showed us the direction of democracy and the direction of freedom, remember that we were part of a completely dysfunctional idea called Soviet Union, and your country was an absolute reference for our resistance before our independence, and for our nation building after that. History is interesting, we are thoughout the times showing each other the right way and providing inspiration, just in the opposite direction... and that's greatly honoring to know, for sure. 💙💛
Enlightened people regardless of country of origin must band together in support of our better angels to lift each other above the barbarous despots from within and without our countries.
I can’t help think that if our money grabbers feel that your minerals are theirs, they may send our soldiers over to protect the value under your feet. There may be an initial benefit of the US fighting on your just side for the worst reason. I might seem cynical but “you got what want” is a real danger. After we protect your valuables we may decide to eliminate the middle man and take what we wanted all along. Be ever vigilant. The open hand of friendship can grasp what it really came for.
I love your work. I feel connected to you and your country. Know you have many people here in America praying for you and wishing peace for Ukraine.🇺🇦 🌻🇺🇦🫶🏼
Thank you very very much, that is really important to hear (to read I mean) because I feel extremelly connected with you and our supporters around the world here. You know, sometimes one could think that the support and the prayers are something distant, something just for the sidelines, but because of your words here, I am absolutely sure that the thoughts from Ukraine that comes from the American people are now a central part of their concerns and a central part in their hearts too. This connection, Russia will never be able to destroy. 💙💛
Absolutely! Whichever protest I attend, I will always carry your flag, Viktor...and Canada's, and Mexico's, and even ours here in the U.S., to remind those who see me that those countries, and more, are supposed to be our allies and friends, that we do not abandon. :-/
(My favorite picture, I think, was the blue and yellow flowers stuck in the barrel of the tank gun... :D)
Dear Nancy, that is very nice to know, and I couldn't thank you enough. I see you very clearly, and our alliance with the U.S. will last for forever no matter who lives in the White House (is the white house also a residence or only the office? Please forgive me the ignorance)💙💛
Hmm! Well, it's big enough to be both; there's the Oval Office, where he's supposed to get important work done (and every President before him has...sigh), and a variety of guest bedrooms (the Lincoln Bedroom is pretty famous; I think that's the one Lincoln liked when he was alive) as well as at least a bedroom for himself and his wife, kitchen, dining room big enough for guests, etc. :)
But it's not HIS house; it's ours, the people of America. We just let him live in it for awhile, and it's high time he remembered that. :-/
And we in the USA won't be silent when the despot in the WH has his "parade" for his birthday. We won't be in DC, we will be gathered in every town & city to proclaim "No Kings" in the USA. We know he wants to be a dictator like Putin. We won't allow it! Thank you, Viktor, for continuing to speak up! You inspire us to follow your lead!
Dear Victor, I think it is so important that somebody like you tell us the truth in opposition to all the lies and propaganda we get from the other side. Alone that they call you nazis!!! Simply disgusting! 😖
Nancy, I totally agree. Almost everything if not everything Trump accuses his "enemies" are a reflection of him. Soviets got Trump wrapped up. Hope they follow up on his becoming an agent of Russia since 1987. I've never met anyone that can lie like he does! (I'm sorry he does this. I love this country and the people of the world having traveled it and I worked for USAID in 1970-71 in Nigeria. This is a sad end to all t he good we've had...)
I am so ashamed that my country with its supposed a austerity measures is spending $45 million on a parade for a man who never served in the military and never had to sacrifice.
Ukraine did have a parade today. It was your parade of words. Instead of tanks, there was eloquence. Instead of guns, there was humanity. Instead of symbols of war, there were symbols of love. And I am proud to march beside you, Viktor. 🇺🇦🇺🇸
So beautiful. You write from your heart right into my heart. In my heart I’m marching with you. 💙💛
Dear Matthew, you are definitely marching with us. From wherever you are. And soon you will be physically marching in the streets of Kyiv with all of us because our "Parade of Victory" will be a celebration for the entire free world not only for Ukraine. 💙💛
Please God soon.
The Russian federation is not celebrating freedom, it is celebrating the false success of taking away the freedom of others
Amen to everything you said. Viktor's writings deeply, deeply affects me every day.
Yes, please God, let it be soon.
So beautiful.
So tragic.
I'm sorry. Thank you.
Thank you. Especially for staying with us. This fight is universal, we are one. 💙
In my heart I will be will with Ukraine until my last day.
Viktor,
You matter. Your words matter. Ukraine matters. Dignity matters. Through your words, you climb through the muck every day to the heart of the matter - love, dignity, and commitment will see you through. Thank you for holding our hands in this journey. It is we who should be helping you. I am humbled by your words.
Love,
Another friend from the US.
To me there is nothing more moving than the sea of flags in Kyiv standing for your losses. Or the way that people kneel and throw flowers in front of funeral processions. Those simple deeply human acts of grief and respect are far more powerful than any military parade.
Dear Lisa, thank you so much for your words and for your reminders. One image that will never leave my memory is in the day of the invasion, February 24 of 2022, where we were absolutely shocked about everything, someone had the idea to replace all the advertisement screen billboards of Kyiv with an image of Ukrainian flags waving. That was so insanely shocking, sad, sublime, so many things at the same time. We were so used to that sea of visual pollution of advertisements and suddenly, our flags waving, like saying "Ukrainians, please, no matter what happens, never surrender". You reminded me of that when you mentioned sea of flags in Kyiv. 💙💛
Viktor - the whole war and invasion have been so tragic. I have two dear friends who used to go to Ukraine every year. It is so hard to see the buildings flattened, lives destroyed. I can't imagine how people are keeping their spirits up -especially since trump pulled all the funding. Grateful for Warren Buffet who donated $500 million to Ukraine. I was ready to send my taxes there, but alas, didn't have any this year or I would have! Im sorry that people here were stupid enough to elect trump. He is an idiot who has no common sense by getting money for. himself. If I COULD change anything, it would be that he'd be in jail. Although I'm not hopeful for the current VP - also ignorant and bull headed but in some ways as bad if not worse than trump. I certainly wouldn't want to see Michael Johnson in there either - another MAGA who won't look at reality. I'm hopeful congress will pass money of Ukraine in this next budget. I admire the Ukrainian people and am hoping for the best. Zelensky is right to call a charade, a charade - like the last sense fire he promised for 3 days. Putin is just evil. I've read two different articles by two different CIA/KGB people who say trump was selected as an agent in 1987, He had a name - Krasnov. I totally believe it! It's sad for me and I appreciate your courtesy and responses.
Hi Viktor I didn’t know about this but what an incredible thing to think to do in the midst of an unbelievable day. I will add to your list of “s” words: shocking, sad, sublime but also symbolic and strength. This is the place I most want to visit when I finally am able to meet my friends in Kyiv in person. I owe the people represented by each of those flags so much for keeping my friends alive. And you alive too.
Ukrainians’ way of honoring the fallen is a profound lesson in respect and faith. God bless and protect you all!
And remember: it was a Ukrainian soldier who waved the flag above the Reichstag as captured in the famous photo of the event. Slava Ukraini!
I’m not going to turn away from the truth, even when it hurts so much
Ukraine Strong
Thank you dear Tenyce. The truth is almost never the easiest path to choose and to walk, but it's always the right one. And if it hurts, it's a signal that it doesnt kill us, so we must proceed! 💙💛
Viktor, I promise (something I rarely do) that I will not forget. As long as you keep writing, Ukraine keeps fighting, if I am still living, I will be here. And so will many, many others: we will not forget.
Dear Alia, if there's one reason for explain why I will keep writing, is because I know I have the best readers in the world like you, and everytime I write that I must remember everyone not to forget Ukraine, I secretly know that this will be something very difficult to happen at least to you and so many of our friends here. So every time when I beg people not to forget Ukraine, please take it "with a grain of salt" as said, and consider that a general request instead of a individual "pledge" (because I know your heart has a special and "unalienable" place for Ukraine!) 💙💛
Viktor, I know you weren’t demanding that we pledge ourselves to you. I chose to make my promise out of my regard and care for you. You keep us aware of the war’s real effects on people. You keep us aware of what the world looks like to Ukrainian people today. You keep us from forgetting and turning away because you share your humanity, your personal experience with us. You are real, you matter, and I will not turn away.
Such a sad and horrid time. My heart aches for Ukraine. Beautifully written comments Victor.
Thank you very much. My readers are the most beautiful in the world so they deserve all possible beauty in the world, or at least the beauty we have in Ukraine! 💙💛
Well said. With so much fascism emanating from the mouths of our elected officials and fellow Americans, it’s uplifting to see another democracy united in a just cause. So many of us have lost our way. Ukrainians now are the beacon for freedom and liberty. You show us there is still something to aspire to and fight for. Thank you.
Thank you very much, there are so many times along our history that the United States of America showed us the direction of democracy and the direction of freedom, remember that we were part of a completely dysfunctional idea called Soviet Union, and your country was an absolute reference for our resistance before our independence, and for our nation building after that. History is interesting, we are thoughout the times showing each other the right way and providing inspiration, just in the opposite direction... and that's greatly honoring to know, for sure. 💙💛
All one big family of Humanity. :)
Enlightened people regardless of country of origin must band together in support of our better angels to lift each other above the barbarous despots from within and without our countries.
I can’t help think that if our money grabbers feel that your minerals are theirs, they may send our soldiers over to protect the value under your feet. There may be an initial benefit of the US fighting on your just side for the worst reason. I might seem cynical but “you got what want” is a real danger. After we protect your valuables we may decide to eliminate the middle man and take what we wanted all along. Be ever vigilant. The open hand of friendship can grasp what it really came for.
I love your work. I feel connected to you and your country. Know you have many people here in America praying for you and wishing peace for Ukraine.🇺🇦 🌻🇺🇦🫶🏼
Thank you very very much, that is really important to hear (to read I mean) because I feel extremelly connected with you and our supporters around the world here. You know, sometimes one could think that the support and the prayers are something distant, something just for the sidelines, but because of your words here, I am absolutely sure that the thoughts from Ukraine that comes from the American people are now a central part of their concerns and a central part in their hearts too. This connection, Russia will never be able to destroy. 💙💛
Absolutely! Whichever protest I attend, I will always carry your flag, Viktor...and Canada's, and Mexico's, and even ours here in the U.S., to remind those who see me that those countries, and more, are supposed to be our allies and friends, that we do not abandon. :-/
(My favorite picture, I think, was the blue and yellow flowers stuck in the barrel of the tank gun... :D)
Dear Nancy, that is very nice to know, and I couldn't thank you enough. I see you very clearly, and our alliance with the U.S. will last for forever no matter who lives in the White House (is the white house also a residence or only the office? Please forgive me the ignorance)💙💛
Hmm! Well, it's big enough to be both; there's the Oval Office, where he's supposed to get important work done (and every President before him has...sigh), and a variety of guest bedrooms (the Lincoln Bedroom is pretty famous; I think that's the one Lincoln liked when he was alive) as well as at least a bedroom for himself and his wife, kitchen, dining room big enough for guests, etc. :)
But it's not HIS house; it's ours, the people of America. We just let him live in it for awhile, and it's high time he remembered that. :-/
Still here 😔
That is the most important thing of all dear friend. Thank you from all my heart 💙💛
So beautiful, so sad, so heroic, so profound.
Thank you for sharing this with us here!
Thanks a lot dear Dan, it's a privilege to have you reading me here, and more than that, receiving such kind words.💙💛
I will always stand with Ukraine.
So will I!
I as well. The people of Ukraine show true courage.
Too true
Indeed. I couldn't be silent in a occasion that our invaders celebrate a day called "Victory Day.". Thanks for being here 💙
And we in the USA won't be silent when the despot in the WH has his "parade" for his birthday. We won't be in DC, we will be gathered in every town & city to proclaim "No Kings" in the USA. We know he wants to be a dictator like Putin. We won't allow it! Thank you, Viktor, for continuing to speak up! You inspire us to follow your lead!
Again you are so right. Thank you so much. 🇺🇦
Thank you so much for caring and for reading me dear Karen! I feel deeply honored. 💙💛
Dear Victor, I think it is so important that somebody like you tell us the truth in opposition to all the lies and propaganda we get from the other side. Alone that they call you nazis!!! Simply disgusting! 😖
In America, we're convinced that "every accusation of us is a confession of theirs." :-/
Nancy, I totally agree. Almost everything if not everything Trump accuses his "enemies" are a reflection of him. Soviets got Trump wrapped up. Hope they follow up on his becoming an agent of Russia since 1987. I've never met anyone that can lie like he does! (I'm sorry he does this. I love this country and the people of the world having traveled it and I worked for USAID in 1970-71 in Nigeria. This is a sad end to all t he good we've had...)
Americans need to hear/read your words, Victor.
I am so ashamed that my country with its supposed a austerity measures is spending $45 million on a parade for a man who never served in the military and never had to sacrifice.
I’m wishing the best for you and your country.
Ukraine did have a parade today. It was your parade of words. Instead of tanks, there was eloquence. Instead of guns, there was humanity. Instead of symbols of war, there were symbols of love. And I am proud to march beside you, Viktor. 🇺🇦🇺🇸
beautiful