The fight for democracy is now universal

It has never been more universal than at this moment of our lives

THREE YEARS. THAT’S HOW LONG UKRAINE HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR ITS SURVIVAL.

In just a few weeks, on February 24th, we will mark the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

We are starting this second month still in the second year since the start of the war. Which means that in March, we will start the third month of the year, having then completed the third year under invasion.

But counting time doesn’t change our reality. It doesn’t bring back the nights of restful sleep, the families we’ve been torn away from, or the sense of security we once had. Time only serves as a testament to where we stand. And where we stand now is at a crossroads.

Not just in Ukraine, but across the world.

For Ukrainians, the fight against Russia is not a choice. It is survival. The enemy has made their intentions clear: they do not just want our land, but they want our identity erased. The history of Russian-perpetrated genocide leaves no room for naïve hopes from our part.

Fighting for Ukraine is like fighting for air, for food, for dignity, for the right to exist. And while this battle has taken on new intensity in the last three years, the truth is that it has been waged for centuries by our ancestors throughout these lands.

But why I mentioned 'across the world?'

We must exercise all our capacity to understand the reality that surrounds us: we are witnessing a rapid descent into dangerous times, where fundamental values of democracy and freedom are under relentless and escalating attack worldwide.

Let's be crystal clear here: I am talking about the new goverment in the United States of America that started only 13 days ago.

Donald Trump has been showing America and the world that he is serious about undermining the fundamental values of civilization. His actions in less than two weeks have already marked a strong reversal of decades of progress in protecting the rights of minorities and vulnerable people in general. He is proposing nothing less than the dismantling of the vast network that makes our societies less cruel to those who are subjected to constraints just because of who they are, who their ancestors were, where they come from, who they love, what they like, and how they look.

Elon Musk’s presence within this power structure is not a coincidence. It is a calculated move to silence opposition, leveraging online platforms to curb dissent, and export authoritarian tactics way beyond the U.S.

Make no mistake: this is not just an American problem. The rise of dictatorship-like governance in the U.S. will send shockwaves globally, influencing alliances, emboldening autocrats, and shifting the balance of power toward oppression.

The fight for democracy is universal. It has never been more universal than at this moment of our lives. We must be more united than ever. We must unite against all forces seeking to dismantle our civilization, whether in Kyiv, Washington, or anywhere else.

I have a dream that on the third anniversary of this war, we will not only stand for Ukraine but for all people resisting tyranny. I dream of a global resistance against those who seek to turn back time and undo the progress of generations.

I hope Martin Luther King wouldn’t mind me borrowing his words for a moment. He would certainly agree that dreams of freedom, justice, and dignity are not bound by time or place.

May February be kind to all of us.

🇺🇦

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