by Kyiv
After three years, very hard and painful, of war, all in Ukraine dream and wait peace. But for many it will be necessary to wait again. On the eve of the anniversary of the Russian invasion and the beginning of the conflict, on February 24, in Kyiv you breathe a frost of great uncertainty. In the reflections, in the few comments just mentioned, the concern, bitterness, the sense of distrust, the expectation mixed with the fear for the decisions that superpowers are taking on the fate of Ukraine are palpable in the people of the people, without consulting the Ukrainians. Few illusions are illusions on the results of the talks started by Trump with Putin, putting both Kyiv and the European Union aside. True, concrete, right and lasting peace say, it is not for now, it will not arise from these negotiations.
“Do you want me to tell you my opinion? I am very pessimistic ». Volodymyr is almost thirty years old, he was born in Russia, as a Ukrainian father and Russian mother, lives in Ukraine since she was a child. In the Kyiv area where he lives with his wife and their child, drones fly very low, almost all nights. A dripping. «We try to stay calm. But many inhabitants in the area are terrified and we often hear our neighbors running when drones or missiles on their heads warn ». And observe: «The trend is clear: the more we talk about negotiations and a rapid end of the war, the more the attacks increase. The latest nights, for example, were very lively ». He adds Volodymyr: «In the West few think about the fact that Putin actually has no reason or advantage to end the war. Everyone wants to play according to the rules with a statesman who, by definition, does not recognize them. Yet after three years they continue to believe that he will finally begin to respect them. The main condition of Russian diplomacy has always been that the other party must recognize the superiority of Russia and suffer it. The “Win-Win” model exists only in western diplomacy. Any concession from the Russians is done only to get what they want ».
In front of a cup of coffee, Vyktoria, 48 years old, an interior architect originally from Donbas but for many years residing with his family in Bucha, north-west of Kyiv, tells of his life in these three years. He lowers his gaze and sighs when his thoughts go to the many young people, all under 30 years old, fathers of the family, killed in his town, massacred in the first month of the war, found in the common pens, without having stained with any crime. «I don’t want to live all this again. Although now they reached an agreement for peace, Russia could attack us again ». He does not trust the talks and the negotiations in progress. He does not trust Moscow. Think of the disinformation campaigns which, for example, have questioned the bucha massacre. «My relatives who live in Russia believe that the massacre is an invention and have interrupted relationships with me. Unfortunately this is what happened to many Ukrainians especially from the East who have familiar in Russia “. And he admits: “I deeply love Ukraine, but I would like my children to live in Europe.”
The young Ukrainians, aged 25 and over, who have the terror of being intercepted by the military, are dreaming and awaited peace, Maybe while they are going to work by car, or while they are traveling on a bus, and to be shipped to the front. “My brother, who is 43 years old, is married and is a father, he was taken while shopping at the fish market,” he says sadness Kateryna Chvalova38 years old, who lives in Fastiv, in the Kyiv region, and works in the Dominican center San Martino De Porres, where he directs the kindergarten and primary school. «It was last Christmas Christmas. They sent him to take the training course. In a few days they will send it to the front, it is not known where. Even his daughter’s husband had been called to arms. On the same day when my brother was taken from the military, his daughter received the news that her husband had died ». He thinks with profound sadness of the unreasful news that arrives in these days, in recent weeks, on the possible negotiations to decide the future of his country.
On the streets of Kyiv large blue panels with the stylized image of the Archangel Michael, patron and protector of the capital, they play in English: “Kyiv awaits you after the victory!”. A reference to foreign visitors, so that they will soon return to this city. A look forward, projected towards a future that Adssp presents itself full of unknowns. The victory, for Ukraine, perhaps never as today appeared far.
(Photo: Piazza Indipendenza in Kyiv)
