Letter of the day: I feel for the Ukrainians
Bidens self fulfilling prophecy has unfortunately come true, dictator and aggressor Putin has invaded Ukraine. And his plans don’t seem to be limited to the Donbas. What a misery, for the really pitiful Ukrainian population.
During the Maidan revolution in 2014, they were misled by neoliberal Brussels technocrats, who promised access to the European market and did not rule out membership of the EU and NATO. This Brussels support was accepted with open arms, especially by Ukrainian leaders and oligarchs, with the result that today’s Ukraine is still the most corrupt European country: 123rd on the Corruption Perception Index† With today’s knowledge, Ukraine should have taken a different path in 2014, namely a path of neutrality.
Ukraine’s geographic location, in the middle between Russia and NATO, makes a different choice than dancing neutrality in advance on a very tightrope. Recently, in de Volkskrant a neutral buffer state, called a non-viable drawing board construct. But Finland and Sweden are proof that neutral buffer states are possible. Only this requires an inclusive, democratic, non-corrupt society.
Finland is number 1 in the CPI and Sweden is number 5. These neutral buffer states lead a vigilant but peaceful and happy existence and score very high in the World Happiness ReportFinland on 1 and Sweden on 7.
My empathy is with the Ukrainian people, who have ended up in war violence partly due to a corrupt government and oligarchy.
Hans MoonenUtrecht
Victim
“The first casualty of war is the truth.” These wise words spoke my dear father on the phone this morning. 95 years, experienced the war and was a journalist. He has been reading this newspaper for years and has been a lifelong champion for the right to the truth. For justice.
During my previous visits to Russia I noticed how different they look at us. An example of this has always stayed with me. The iron Curtain. That curtain was necessary to stop us (the West). To protect them (the Russians).
That’s what happens when news is one-sided. The biggest casualty is the truth.
Brigitta Wemekamp KoopmanOmmen
War
War in Europe. Now it turns out how slow, scared, disunited, dependent we are.
Mark MillerUtrecht
Historical mistake
Russian President Putin is in the process of undoing historical mistakes and has left behind the small-scale land grab in Georgia and eastern Ukraine. So let us, the EU, now also correct a historical mistake and let the Russians get out of Kaliningrad like the weeder, before they make Europe a head ache along the Baltic Sea. Ukraine is just the beginning.
Johan de BoerGouda
5 percent
As I have been saying for over a year now, we need to get rid of Russian gas immediately. It is only 15 percent of our gas imports and not even 5 percent of our total energy needs. Besides, it will be spring and summer. And now really learning to live more frugally helps in more ways: good for your wallet and especially for the climate and biodiversity.
With the thermostat one to two degrees lower (thicker clothes), shower less, drive less, buy less stuff (especially cloud-using electronics) and junk, and especially flying less, that 5 percent is compensated in no time. And we also have less nitrogen emissions.
When Putin turns off the gas, he quickly runs out of black seed. So make a virtue of necessity.
Marieke van DoorwerthArnhem
Boycott
There is only one response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: the total boycott of everything Russian. Not only gas, but also sport and culture. So also exclusion of all Russian athletes for all sports competitions outside Russia.
Ronny van de WaterAmsterdam
Mckinseyfiring
Fascinating what resources the cabinet is throwing into the Ukrainian-Russian struggle. Minister Ollongren sticks to ‘defensive weapons’, colleague Hoekstra uses heavier artillery. With passion and repetition he talks about ‘a substantial package of measures’, which – I am not making this up – ‘hangs above the market’ and is ‘proportionately available’. His glance betrays great expectations. Clash of arms may leave Putin cold, but consultant jargon definitely terrifies him. I am also a consultant and glow with pride. The McKinseyfication of our foreign policy is a fact.
Paul LooijmansUtrecht
Anti-Putin demonstrations
Where are the political parties, freedom committees, peace movements organizing anti-Putin demonstrations? Solidarity with Ukraine. Down with aggressor Putin. Support the opposition in Russia. Shame & blame Putin’s mouthpiece Baudet. Clear slogans. I walk with you and many with me.
Gerard HeidaGroningen
space travel
Today I have the book I don’t fall, I dance by Margot van Schayk. This contains an article de Volkskrant of 28/10/17 in which the ‘overview effect’ is described: how a space journey leads to new insights about people and the earth. Can it be arranged as soon as possible that Messrs Putin, Biden and Xi Jinping make such a trip in the short term? Preferably together? So that they ‘fall in love’ with the earth and its inhabitants and return as humanists.
Anneke RemmeltsEindhoven
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