Day 9

It has been another tumultuous and exhausting week. Some thoughts and observations: 

• I had dinner a few days ago with a good friend at my favorite local taqueria (La Cumbre). In the same year I became naturalized (1986), he escaped from Iran, as a teenager. He had grown up in Tehran during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), and we discussed the first days and months, living in makeshift shelters, bombardment, local military operations, uncertainty. If you listened closely, President Biden misspoke, probably a few times, during the State of the Union Address, once mentioning the Iranian people, instead of the Ukrainian people.  Honest mistake, and, yes, we should support any peace-loving people desirous of self-determination. But, first, we need to focus on the crisis in Ukraine. I am sure that my friend’s war-time experience growing up in Tehran is not isolated.  There are many such stories. Just listen. Also, I cannot but help marvel at our melting pot: Ukrainian and Iranian emigres enjoying wonderful food with its origin in Mexico. Apparently, Mexican food is popular in Kyiv as well. See above. 

• Like many, I am searching for ground truth in the current conflict. I watch CNN, Fox News, local news, and YouTube, among others. I speak Russian and can understand it well, so this opens up additional news sources. The Economist arrives today or tomorrow. I triage. I communicate with family and friends on the ground. After a while, it is the same news and stories.  This is probably as close to ground truth that I can get. 

• Europe is stepping up. I saw a very cogent interview a few days ago of Philippe Etienne, the French Ambassador to the United States. It seems that finally defense and energy independence are top of mind. This is salutary and heartening. President Macron continues his communications with Putin. I cannot quite say that I see him brokering a peace deal, but an open line of communication is better than not having one. Unsurprisingly, China is staying quiet. Taiwan is top of mind for many in the East. 

• Putin continues to press his case for “de-nazifying” Ukraine, per his speech yesterday. This is madness. 

• More than 1 million Ukrainians have been displaced since the start of this war. More than 500,000 have found their way to Poland. A good friend shared with me a video last weekend from a peace rally in Katowice. We, and our other European friends, need to support Poland. 

• The Russian military strategy is now clear: squeeze Kiev from the north, south, and east; cut off the Ukrainian army in the east, where apparently half of its troops are located; and install a puppet government. 

• Kharkiv, in the Russian-speaking east and near the Russian border, is in shambles. Civilian areas have been hit hard. Putin is claiming that residents of high-rise building are being told to move to lower floors, so that cannons and snipers can occupy the higher floors, just as the Nazis did when they invaded Ukraine. The city looks like 1942, not 2022. 

• At least some of the Brazilian soccer players in Ukraine have made their way out of the country. Recall that many were pleading with the Brazilian government to secure their immediate passage out of Ukraine. I had read that a local soccer club in Kharkiv has taken up arms and will be joining the fight. In solidarity, our local soccer crew plans to wear yellow and blue jerseys in an upcoming game. 

• I have donated to Nova Ukraine and UNICEF Ukraine.  Consider giving. I will also be glad to donate my legal services in support of the current situation. I have written to my local representatives. I will focus on possible op-eds this weekend. 

• It looks like the Russian military is beginning to focus in earnest on civilian infrastructure. While Kiev still has electricity, this of course can change quickly. Whatever Putin destroys, someone will need to rebuild. I am still not clear why anyone would want to be in charge of a country in shambles. Russia already has its own infrastructure and other problems. Why add to the portfolio?

• I hope Ukraine fatigue does not set in any time soon, and, of course, that cooler heads prevail. This is only the beginning. 

• Hike this weekend, to refresh. 

Comments welcomed.