Cynical Vet

Tonight, after a stand-up comedy show in Kyiv, I introduced Marco V. Pereira to my friend who had just performed on stage. We spent time together documenting life in Ukraine, discussing journalism, making plans for future projects and exploring possible collaborations. We were talking about the future. Then we headed towards the metro to go home. And there we saw people sheltering underground from a possible Russian ballistic missile attack. Families. Young people. Elderly people. People with their pets. Some had brought tents, preparing to spend the night underground. Just ordinary people trying to survive another night of Russia’s war. Think about this contrast. A few minutes earlier, we were laughing, documenting life, discussing journalism and imagining what we could create together. Now we were walking past people preparing to sleep in a metro station because Russia might launch ballistic missiles at their city. The air raid alert lasted for about an hour. Russian drones continued threatening our cities. And while all of this was happening, I was reading the latest news. President Trump has suspended the implementation of new sanctions against Russia, invoking America’s “national interest.” His administration has pursued arrangements involving Russian diesel. Reports have also emerged about discussions concerning the restoration of Russian gas supplies to Europe. Meanwhile, Ukraine is facing serious questions about restrictions on Starlink and Starshield services, interruptions to military communications and the reliability of intelligence sharing. And Russia is preparing its next technological threat. Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov warns that Russia’s developing Rassvet satellite network could provide coverage over Ukraine within six months, potentially allowing Russian drones to be controlled in real time and challenging our existing electronic warfare defences. This is a warning about a possible future capability, not something that has already been achieved. But the threat is serious. Do you understand what all of this means for us? While Russia develops new ways to attack Ukrainians, the United States is exploring ways to restore economic relations with the country attacking us. While Ukraine desperately needs reliable air defence and Patriot interceptors, decisions are being made that could bring new revenue to Moscow. And while politicians discuss energy prices, trade agreements and national interests, Ukrainian families are sitting underground, waiting to find out whether the next missile will hit their homes. I am Ukrainian. I live in Kyiv. I hear these attacks. I see people sheltering in metro stations. I watch ordinary life continue under the constant threat of Russian missiles and drones. I see people laughing at comedy shows, musicians performing, journalists documenting our lives, friends discussing their futures. And then I see those same streets emptying as people rush underground. This is what our lives have become: we make plans for the future while trying to survive the present. Russia’s war is not an abstract geopolitical dispute. It is financed by resources, sustained by technology and carried out with weapons against real human beings. Revenue can become weapons. Weapons can become civilian deaths. So I want to ask the American people, regardless of their political views: Is restoring business with Russia worth strengthening the economy of a state that continues invading and attacking its neighbour? How does weakening economic pressure on Moscow bring peace closer? And who will take responsibility if the decisions made today leave Ukrainian civilians even more vulnerable tomorrow? We are not asking the world to fight this war in our place. We are asking our partners not to make it easier for Russia to continue killing us. Because while politicians negotiate with Russia, Ukrainians are sleeping underground, hoping to wake up alive tomorrow.