"You can’t keep piss in people’s faces"
"You can’t keep piss in people’s faces," I yelled at Zelenskyy today in my dream. "People aren’t ready to die and fight for a country that disrespects them and hypocritically deceives them."
What a dream to have on New Year's Eve, I thought, waking up in the morning... Why would that be?
I went to watch Zelenskyy's New Year's address. And I am shocked.
Firstly, it was a New Year's address to the peoples of Europe and the United States, as well as their leaders. Ukrainian society and the Ukrainian people took a back seat. The main message from the President of Ukraine was that ending the war depends on America and Europe, which must put pressure on russia. And Ukrainians will have to approve some kind of end to the war. It seems like a hint at a referendum.
Secondly, the dove of peace spoke from the screen, saying that 90% of the peace agreement had already been reached. Only 10% remained, but what exactly that was, the dove of peace said between the lines. Just for russia to agree. Just to cede the unoccupied territories of Donbas in exchange for security guarantees that are stronger than the Budapest Memorandum and the Minsk trap. This brings to mind how, throughout 2024, Zelenskyy had been feeding the people "bilateral security guarantees signed with dozens of countries," which were in fact a mirage, a complete PR fiction.
Thirdly, not a word about victory. And nothing about the changes that are needed in society and in the management of the state to achieve this goal. We just need to "stay one step ahead" of russia. Just "hold out a day longer than the enemy." Be a little bolder than the enemy. And there will be something... called "strong peace"... if russia wants it, or if America puts pressure on russia.
That's it. Is that our plan? Our strategy?
This is a direct path to capitulation and strategic defeat.
The truth is that:
1. Russia does not want peace. It wants to control the whole of Ukraine. For russia, Ukraine is a springboard for an attack on the whole of Europe, but Europe stubbornly refuses to see this.
2. America does not want to put pressure on Russia because Putin has already promised mountains of gold worth trillions of dollars to Trump's close business circle.
3. Europe is scared, but not ready to switch its economy to a war footing. Europe's strategy is to buy time in order to a) keep America, or rather its NATO military bases in Europe, around for longer, b) help Ukraine hold out longer as Europe's shield, because Ukrainians are used to dying, and their citizens are used to taking two weeks' holiday twice a year, and c) slowly arm itself, but without sharply increasing the utility costs of the average European voter.
4. If nothing changes and we simply "stay one step ahead of the enemy," there will be no just and decent peace. Only surrender. Or a brief pause before the next, even bloodier phase of the war.
5. We cannot change russia, we cannot change America, we cannot change Europe, but we can and must change ourselves. To be not one step, but light years ahead of russia. So that the enemy falls into fear and panic at the mere thought of attacking us. We must make a quantum leap in development. To survive. To simply have the right to exist. And for this, we need to mobilise the whole of society, all our talents, innovations, endurance and high-quality cooperation. We have tremendous potential for this, but the key to qualitative change and victory lies in the system of state governance.
6. While strategic sectors of the economy are being carved up by the president's mindiches,
While the president's yermaks are clumsily engaged in diplomacy and military management,
While the president himself is building his "Mezhyhiria" in a bloody war and punishing his best citizens who speak the truth freely. And he is incapable of admitting his mistakes and changing -
We remain weak from within.
Ukraine and our people will have no agency and will be pawns played by other players in a game of chess. For the people, this will mean more deaths, suffering, enslavement and oppression. For Zelenskyy, instead of being a hero and father of the nation, he will remain in history books as a failed joke on Ukraine.
7. What to do? Assess reality soberly. Filter out hypocritical lies and sweet PR promises. Realise that it will not get any easier. This marathon will be a long one. There is nowhere to run and no need to. Thank God that we are still alive and can do something. Our victory will be His divine miracle. Take care of your physical and mental health and that of your loved ones. Be kind and merciful to the people around us, because it is very difficult for all of us. And honestly and efficiently do what we can, despite everything, where we are. For ourselves and for those who have already given their lives so that we have a chance to change something for the better.
