The Ukrainian Weekly (https://www.ukrweekly.com/uwwp/author/admin/page/27/)
The current escalation of tensions around eastern Ukraine is dangerous and may appear untimely and inopportune while Europe and Russia seek to focus on managing the latest COVID-19 pandemic wave as well as addressing its accumulating economic and social consequences. Nevertheless, a deliberate political choice is dictating the uptick in violence in the Donbas war zone, raising the risk of renewed major military conflict.
Train convoys of heavy Russian military equipment, seen on multiple videos on social media, reportedly shipping from Siberia to the border regions of Ukraine.
The Kerch Strait Bridge to the occupied Crimean Peninsula shut down briefly, apparently for a major shipment of weaponry.
The non-governmental organization (NGO) Ukraine-2050 welcomes the following “Joint Statement by Members of the European Parliament on increased tensions over Russia’s military build-up in eastern Ukraine” issued on April 2:
The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) is deeply concerned with Russia’s recent build-up of military forces at Ukraine’s border and violation of its ceasefire agreement. Equally troubling are the series of provocative statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin, other officials and Russian media personalities regarding Ukraine. All these developments have raised the prospect that Moscow might launch a new offensive in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron conferred, on March 30, by video-conference on multiple international issues, including the intensification of the “internal conflict in Ukraine” (according to Mr. Putin) or “conflict in Ukraine” (Ms. Merkel and Mr. Macron, though still not naming Russia).
Amid an ongoing pandemic currently spiking throughout the country and amid a growing threat of renewed Russian aggression and more Russian troops mobilizing along its northern, eastern and southern borders, Ukraine has simultaneously been tasked by Western allies with rooting out corruption and graft endemic throughout much of the country.
Fifteen years ago, on April 16, 2006, The Ukrainian Weekly’s editorial for that issue commented on the broken condition of the U.S. immigration system.
Most Reverend Archbishops and Bishops, Very Reverend and Reverend Fathers, Venerable Brothers and Sisters in Monastic and Religious Life, Dearly Beloved Laity in Christ of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church:
Christ is Risen!
On Sunday, March 28, I was waiting for the dreaded phone call and it came. My friend Bohdan Medwidsky had passed at 4:30 p.m. from the coronavirus. This severed a virtually 30-year friendship.
Let me preface my remarks with a caveat. This is a personal analysis but not anecdotal with few stereotypical examples and conclusions and, unfortunately, some bias. Also, this is a very sensitive topic, which may offend even some of my friends who are Jewish, those who are very thin skinned.