Better Late than Never or We Told You So

It’s been an axiom of The Torn Curtain 1991 that russia would never accept Ukraine’s independence proclamation of 1991 and the time will come when moscow will strike against Ukraine with the its age-old intention of capturing the country, subjugating the nation and erasing all vestiges of Ukrainian culture, language and religion.

Even that hasn’t been a kremlin goal that has been relegated to the past 30 or so years or the 21^st or 20^th centuries.

It’s been moscow’s mission for 1,000 years.

We’ve denounced the West’s decision of 80 years ago to accept russia as a trustworthy, democratic partner rather than strongly supporting the captive nations in their quest to free themselves of moscow’s yolk and become sovereign and independent.

We accepted reality that our arguments were for naught.

And then we see that the least likely contemporary national leader has uttered his own “mea culpa” or rather in French “ma faute.”

French President Emmanuel Macron admitted that France – and by association Europe and the free world – should have paid more attention to Eastern European countries that warned of the threat from russia.

Macron expressed this epiphany in a speech at the GLOBSEC forum in Bratislava, according to European Pravda and Reuters.

This is politically and historically significant because Macron has been one of the national leaders who believed in the goodness of moscow and the potential success of convincing putin to stop the war in Ukraine. He upheld this point of view even in the face of russia’s crimes against humanity in Ukraine.

Macron emphasized that there should be no division between “Old Europe” and “New Europe.” referring to the long-standing disagreements between the EU’s eastern and western members, particularly over the Russian issue.

“Some said you had missed an opportunity to shut up. I think we also lost an opportunity to listen to you. This time is over," Macron said.

He was alluding to former French President Jacques Chirac’s statement in 2003 that Eastern European states that supported the United States and Britain in their decision to invade Iraq had missed a “good opportunity to shut up.”

The French President said russia had suffered obvious failures in the war against Ukraine.

“War is far from over but one thing is clear: Ukraine won’t be conquered. We can see that what was supposed to be a ‘special operation’ is already a geopolitical failure,” Macron said.

Earlier, Macron stated that Ukraine must be provided with “tangible and reliable security guarantees.”

He also emphasized that the West should do everything possible to help Ukraine conduct an effective counteroffensive since it “gives a chance to establish a lasting peace.”

We accept your confession. As your penance, provide Ukraine will all of your offensive and defensive air, land and sea weapons.

Ukraine Repels Massive russian missile attack on Kyiv Day

May 28 is traditionally observed in Ukraine as Kyiv Day, the spiritual and historical capital of sovereign Ukraine.

The legendary city was founded 1,541 years ago, give or take a few months. When glorious golden-domed Kyiv was established, the regions around moscow and other russian cities were bogs and swamps with croaking frogs.

Contemporary russia, itself a concept that originated in the mid-18^th century, did not overlook the occasion to commemorate this anniversary.

It vindictively launched the largest drone attack against Ukraine’s capital since the start of russia’s war 15 months ago just as Kyiv was preparing to mark the anniversary. Reports say at least one person was killed.

Serhii Popko, a senior Kyiv military official, said russia launched the “most massive attack” on the capital with Iranian-made Shahed drones. The attack lasted more than five hours, with air defense reportedly shooting down more than 40 drones.

A 41-year-old man was killed and a 35-year-old woman was hospitalized when debris fell on a seven-story nonresidential building and started a fire, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Ukraine’s Air Force said Saturday night was also record-breaking in terms of Shahed drone attacks across the country. Of the 54 drones launched, 52 were shot down by air defense systems.

In the northeastern Kharkiv province, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said a 61-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man were killed in two separate shelling attacks.

A colleague and friend, Tanya Parkhomchuk, a journalist with Zerkalo Nedili and Ukrayina Moloda, whose article on current events in Ukraine will appear in the summer 2023 edition of THE UKRAINIAN QUARTERLY, described russia’s latest massive missile attack on Kyiv:

“All night, on May 28 (Kyiv Day) the orcs (pejorative word for Russians meaning hideous monster) poured hatred, a record number of Shaheds, on us and our Kyiv. Evidently, the genes of the hordes push them to commit new crimes, they do not give rest, reminding of their brutal, destructive raids on Kyiv. When churches were chosen together with gilded domes; when they robbed the houses of Kyivans, killed, mocked... And, receiving tears and curses in their wake, they took carts full of bloody loot to their Golden Horde moksha (moscow). They have no right to further defile the Earth. Their place is complete oblivion.

“Happy birthday, dear, wise, courageous, Kyiv! We love you infinitely!”

Ukraine will survive because Ukrainians – all Ukrainians from east to west and north to Crimea – will persevere and repel all russian attacks. But is it fair for Ukrainians – civilians – to endure death and destruction every day as they defend the free world from russian aggression?