Critics need to be more careful, cautious and informed

Dear Editor:

I would like to address a recent letter to the editor criticizing Mr. Mirchuk’s and Mr. Martyniuk’s earlier letters on Crimea and Nord Stream 2. The letter was written by Dr. Lomacky (March 14, 2021). Unfortuna­tely, space limitations do not allow a full elaboration.

NEWSBRIEFS

Ukraine sees record number of COVID deaths
Ukraine registered a record daily high of 289 coronavirus-related deaths over a 24-hour-period on March 17, leading the prime minister to urge local authorities to impose stronger restrictions to contain its spread. Ukraine last month prolonged a lockdown until the end of April but allowed regions with fewer COVID-19 cases to ease some curbs.

Former prime minister Honcharuk visits Chicago, discusses importance of diaspora contributions to Ukraine

CHICAGO – During a visit to the Ukrainian Village here on March 12-13, former Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk met with various diaspora representatives and took part in a question-and-answer session in which he addressed issues related to Ukrainian politics, corruption, implementation of land, medical and educational reforms, as well as the privatization process and the program to support small and medium business in his country.

A political spring for Ukraine?

There’s hardly a dull moment in Ukrainian politics, whether domestic or international. And, so far, this month has been no exception. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seems to have been politically reinvigorated, some are even saying “re-born,” and for the moment his opponents seem at a loss over how to respond.

Mikheil Saakashvili’s activity strains Georgian-Ukrainian relations

On March 5, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy removed the head of the Executive Committee on Reforms, Mikheil Saakashvili, from his position on the Coordination Council for Urban Planning. The Presidential Office provided no explanation for this sudden decision (Sova, March 5). Mr. Zelenskyy had appointed Mr. Saakashvili – the former president of Georgia and one-time governor of Ukraine’s Odessa Oblast – as head of the Ukrainian Executive Committee on Reforms back in May 2020 (RBC, May 7, 2020).

Commemorating Taras Shevchenko

OTTAWA – On March 9, Ukrainians around the world mark the 207th anniversary of the birth of Ukraine’s bard, Taras Shevchenko. His contributions to the development of Ukrainian culture, national identity and national unity cannot be overestimated. For two centuries, Ukraine’s Kobzar has inspired generations of Ukrainians, both in Ukraine and abroad.