105-year Path to Independence in 60 Seconds

This weekend the Ukrainian nation observes its 105-year path to independence that unfortunately continues to be challenged by the latter-day global terrorist – russia.
Today, January 22 is recognized as Ukrainian Unity Day. Indeed, the Ukrainian nation from east to west, north to south is u
nited in a single cause – to defeat russia and live freely and securely within its recognized borders, which incidentally have been reduced over the years.
However, allow me to flesh out this illustrious celebration with a 105-year recap of the bloody details and the nation’s eternal dedication to the cause of national liberty and democracy.
In the days leading up to January 22, 1918, after three previous unsuccessful attempts, Ukrainians of all political affiliations comprehended the everlasting danger posed by tsarist and communist russia and gathered in Kyiv to decide their future. Then on that historical day they declared the full independence of the eastern region from russia — red and white.
The circumstances were mirrored in western Ukraine. On November 1, 1918, Ukrainians in Lviv declared independence of the western region from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
On January 22, 1919, both independent national entities understood that their self-governing future rested in a united country and thus formed an independent, sovereign, indivisible Ukrainian National Republic from the rivers Sian to the Don.
Through the ensuing decades as has been the Ukrainian nation’s destiny the fight for independence continued.
On March 15, 1939, the Transcarpathian region declared independence after fighting Hitler’s ally the Hungarians – so World War Two really began earlier than September of that year with Ukrainians first striking a blow against the Nazis.
On June 30, 1941, the revolutionary government of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists in Lviv declared the restoration of the January 22 proclamation and established an independent temporary seat in western Ukraine pending victory and relocation to Kyiv. This dramatic move angered Berlin and Moscow who fought for its destruction without the Western allies’ comprehension of what was really happening.
After the war, the fight for Ukrainian independence continued in the gulags, academia, the streets, Orange Revolution, Maidan, Revolution of Dignity until August 24, 1991, when the latest independence proclamation was declared in the Verkhovna Rada, the parliament.
Unfortunately, the path to freedom didn’t end with the raising of hands. As Thomas Jefferson famously wrote: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
On February 24, 2022, russia again invaded Ukraine and the bloody war for Ukrainian independence resumed.
For this quest to end, give Ukraine the tanks that its armed forces need to defeat and destroy russia. Truthfully, that is the only possible conclusion that will bring regional and global peace and security.
Otherwise, the Hundred Years’ War will look like a walk in the park.
Glory to the fighters! Glory to the heroes! Glory to Ukraine!

Zelenskyy Tells Davos Gathering Ukraine needs Tanks to Defeat Russia

N.Y. Daily News earlier in the tragedy.

With images of russia’s brutal murder of 45 innocent Ukrainian men, women and children in their homes still fresh in people’s minds and the 11-month Russo-Ukraine War raging, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the World Economic Forum that free-world supplies of tanks and air defense systems should be delivered sooner in order to outpace russian attacks.

Tanks and air defense systems are the key arms needed to defeat russian aggression and save Europe.

Zelenskyy, who addressed the elite gathering of world leaders and corporate executives in the Swiss ski resort of Davos on January 18 via video link, called for the world to speed up deliveries of weapons, declaring that Ukraine is standing strong and committed despite daily bloody fighting in eastern Ukraine. However, he said the West has to recognize that “tyranny is outpacing democracies” and urged world leaders to act faster.

“The time the free world uses to think is used by the terrorist state to kill,” Zelenskyy said. “The supplies of Western tanks must outpace another invasion of Russian tanks.”

Ukraine – armed forces, government and people – remains motivated to continue battling the russian invasion, now in its 11th month, and vanquishing the aggressor, he said, but complained that its allies have repeatedly been too “hesitant” to act to confront russia, even if they eventually make the right call.

Zelenskyy did not specifically mention Germany, but Ukraine has repeatedly called on Berlin to send German-manufactured advanced Leopard 2 tanks.

Zelenskyy express pleasure to hear that former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has undergone a significant transformation in his view on Ukrainian membership of NATO. Kissinger, who spoke virtually to the World Economic Forum on January 17, said russia’s invasion shows there is no longer a point to keeping Ukraine out of NATO and membership for Ukraine would be an “appropriate outcome.”
Kissinger’s revised opinion is “very important to put political pressure on russia” to stop its aggression, Zelenskyy said, adding that Kyiv still believes that NATO membership is the best guarantee for its security.

Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska also was doing her part to help promote Ukraine’s case before the world audience. She pressed world leaders and corporate executives in Switzerland to exercise their influence against a russian invasion that is leaving children dying and the world struggling with food insecurity.

As the first anniversary of the war nears, Zelenska said parents in Ukraine are in tears watching doctors trying to save their children, farmers are afraid to return to their fields filled with mines and “we cannot allow a new Chornobyl to happen.”

“What you all have in common is that you are genuinely influential,” Zelenska told attendees. “But there is something that separates you, namely that not all of you use this influence, or sometimes use it in a way that separates you even more.”

As for the Zelenskyy’s point that Ukraine’s membership in NATO is the best guarantee of its security, Prime Minister Sanna Marin of Finland said she hopes the West has learned its lessons on how to deal with russia. If Ukraine had been a NATO member, there would not be a war in the country now, Marin said on January 17 in Davos. She said this was why Finland and Sweden had applied for NATO membership. “We want to become a member of NATO because we don't ever again want war in Finland. We have been at war with russia before,” Marin said.

Kissinger’s epiphany about NATO and Ukraine is a significant development, which, hopefully, will push hesitant countries to actively support Ukraine against russia. Countries that have tanks, armored fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, air defense systems and other military materiel should provide them to Ukraine so Ukrainian soldiers, sailors and pilots can defeat russia and protect Europe.