The opinions expressed in our op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. Like other good friends and allies of Ukraine, Canada has contributed considerably to military and humanitarian aid. While the nearly 600 million dollars and 30,000-some temporary resident visas are peanuts compared to the overall price of Russia’s full-scale war, they help. So do the Ukraine Sovereignty Bonds issued by the Canadian government, the proceeds from

A woman holds a Ukrainian flag in central Kyiv where damaged Russian military vehicles are displayed on Aug. 24, 2022, Ukraine's Independence Day. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin) Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in our op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. It appears as though Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the south may lead to the country’s victory over Russia’s horrific war aimed at preventing Ukraine from a democratic path. Ru

Russia’s horrors in Ukraine illustrate what the dark ages were like. Now, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin wants to go darker. He plans to do it on the anniversary of Ukraine’s independence with sham show trials for the Azovstal defenders as ‘terrorists’. Instead of music the Mariupol Symphony Concert Hall will fill with insults hurled at the heroes caged like wild animals for maximum public humiliation and abuse. After months of heroic fighting some two thousand defenders were evacuated from th

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions of the Kyiv Independent. A wounded wild animal is very dangerous. So is Russia’s dictator Vladimir Putin. He is losing his bloody war in Ukraine. He’s humiliated now and historically. He must be livid. Before Ukraine declares victory it — with friends and allies — needs to ensure the wounded criminal in the Kremlin won’t pounce. Putin’s humiliation is considerable.

Make no mistake, talking about off-ramps and non-humiliating exits for Russia or lack of Ukraine’s readiness for EU membership as it battles for its existence against Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s illegitimate war is the height of betrayal of democratic values. Shame on Germany, France, Italy, Austria and others. Such conniving gives succor to democracy’s chief enemy, Russia. It endangers world peace by telegraphing that criminal activity needs pardoning not punishment. Ukraine has been ext

The unprovoked war that Russia unleashed on Ukraine has far-reaching consequences. If he wins, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will be elevated to godhood. Russia’s false historic claims to entitlements will explode. Its global propaganda machine will spin arrogant superiority sans pareil to push Russia-style dictatorship even further on countries beholden to Moscow like Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Angola, Hungary. More industrious ones like internet-savvy India will move closer to the winner too.

The visit by the United States’ Secretaries of State and Defense to Ukraine earlier this week was a meaningful show of support. They promised much needed new weapons — previously denied — and put forward a new American strategy in response to Russia’s unprovoked, brutal war. The U.S. means to “weaken” Russia’s ability to continue and repeat the harm it’s doing in Ukraine. This is a vital recognition of Russia’s intentions to disrupt the world order beyond Ukraine.  It indicates that the U.S. ha

When a drunk-with-rage husband takes a knife to his wife, when a child is abused by a parent, when a bully strikes innocents, most humans are moved to protect the victim and punish the offender especially if they have an advantage. To do less is cowardly. To do business with the bully while he kills is aiding and abetting the criminal; providing support is collaboration. To watch from safety as Ukrainians die for democracy is gutless, especially for those who promised security guarantees in exc

It’s infuriating that Russia’s serial killer, autocrat Vladimir Putin, is telling Western powers what they should be doing. What is worst, they are listening. The war-crime nominee has launched an incomprehensible war on global democracies by attacking Ukraine for no reason other than he thinks that he can get away with it. He wants his views to dominate the world and set its agenda even if it takes a war to do it. As his new law specifies there’s a 15-year prison sentence if you speak up agains

The heroic feats of Ukraine are a balm for our heart and soul. It’s been a long time since anything like its national resistance to Russia’s war has nurtured the spirit. Humanity loves heroes. The Ukrainian people, its military and president have shown it in spades. Respect, love and praise are flowing to Ukraine. But as worthy and wonderful as these are they are not the same as winning the war against a bloodthirsty untermensch, subhuman. That requires hard-nosed assistance. Immediately. Ukrain

Russia’s needless war in Ukraine uncovered the best and the worst sides of international politics and diplomacy. The best produced what looks currently like a win over Vladimir Putin’s war. The worst is that his lunacy against democracy continues. What now? First, the best. Bravo Ukraine! It stands up to Putin's obsession to steal its sovereignty and perpetrate a genocide by some 130,000 Russian attack troops on its border. It must continue defending “our land, our people, and our families”.

We can still call ourselves human when we come to our neighbor's aid despite a psychopath villain threatening his existence and, perhaps, ours too. Such human gestures came recently from the little Baltic states, Poland the Czech Republic, Denmark, Canada, and others most importantly from the United States. All committed to helping Ukraine with arms against Vladimir Putin’s crazy war and demented hallucinations blaming the West for threats to Russia’s security. Such human gestures lift the spir

Russia’s president made strong self-serving demands recently. Among them seeking security guarantees from the United States, its allies and NATO, determining NATO’s membership, and withholding military co-operation to the now independent former USSR states. Otherwise the Zircons will fly, he threatened. President Joe Biden shot back. Ukraine’s sovereignty is sacred and Russia will not dictate NATO membership nor international arrangements of sovereign states. And if President Vladimir Putin mov