A gleeful atmosphere pervades the Kremlin these days following the US elections, while gloom and desperation are growing in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. 

Ukrainian Christians draw little comfort from knowing that their American brothers and sisters voted for the ‘anti-abortion candidate’ when, as they see it, the election outcome ‘gave Putin hope to establish his “new world order,” which would include lifting all the sanctions against Russia and consuming Ukraine.

With those words, Ira Kapitonova, our YWAM colleague in Kyiv, described her country’s prospects this week, continuing:

‘That was evident from (Putin’s) recent speech. These demands seem ridiculous, but we’ve been living in this madman’s world for a while, and nothing seems surprising anymore.

We’re praying the world would remember that appeasement never works. We’ve seen it with Nazi Germany in the 1930s, but we’ve also seen it with Russia in Georgia (2008) and Crimea and Eastern Ukraine (2014). 

‘The world may be tired of the war in Ukraine, and fast solutions may seem tempting, but it would only bring the war closer to the homes of people in Western Europe. Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Finland may become next if Russia is not stopped in Ukraine.

A bully only understands the language of power, and seeing NATO’s reluctance or exceeding caution only urges him to try harder.’

‘Insane terrorism’

Ira describes the ordeal millions of Ukrainians experience daily: 

‘It’s night, and we are in our apartment corridor again. Recent drone attacks show that the Russians started using thermobaric warheads (vacuum bombs) to increase damage and casualties among civilians. I’ve noticed that I stopped checking the news in the morning. I still check to see if there is an air raid, but I’ve realized over the past month or two that every night brings destruction and death to civilians in cities away from the combat zone, so it’s something I know for sure now, and there’s no need to check it. Getting desensitized? Maybe. But is it possible not to after almost 1,000 days of insane terrorism?’

German news outlets yesterday reported: 

‘Since the US election at the beginning of November alone, deadly murderous drone and missile attacks have increased by 44% increasingly targeting the population and civilian energy infrastructure. This is also “psychological terror”. People reported drones stalking them in the streets. Thousands are without electricity heating and shelter. People are getting desperate.’ 

For years now, Yale historian Timothy Snyder has been consistently warning about the threats to democracy, pluralism and wealth inequality through his books including On Tyranny, On Freedom, The road to unfreedom. 

Threats come not only from the Kremlin, he writes, but also from populist, autocratic, illiberal politicians everywhere.

In response to the controversial appointments proposed this week by the president-elect for the five key zones of health, law, administration, defense, and intelligence, Snyder cautions that this group of people, if appointed, could bring an end to the United States of America. 

Snyder is no alarmist and extremist. But he urges citizens, regardless of how they voted, now to check their attitudes. ‘This is no longer a post-electoral moment. It is a pre-catastrophic moment.’ 

Surprised

Ukraine has been here before. Early in 2022, it seemed as if nothing could stop the amassed Russian forces from invading and subduing the whole land.

This remains the Kremlin’s goal: firstly, that Ukraine drop its bid to join NATO, and that Russia’s sovereignty should be accepted over the four regions and Crimea that were unilaterally annexed by Russia. 

Ultimately, to subdue a free, democratic, western-oriented neighbour under her control.

While Zelensky still refuses to cede any Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, he is aware that without White House support he cannot win the war and appears more ready now to resolve the conflict through diplomacy.

The unpredictable American president-elect has repeatedly claimed to end the war ‘within 24 hours’ – without telling how. 

Ira and other Ukrainians fear he will enforce cessation of territory, and a pause in fighting until Russia can rebuild their forces to resume long term goals for Ukraine and other former satellites later.

Yet the world was surprised in February 2022 when a diminutive television comedian emerged as a resolute war president undaunted by overwhelming odds. Few expected that today, 997 days later, the nation would still be holding off Big Brother.

Let us continue to pray for more ‘moments of grace’, and a just and lasting end to this war, joining the Ukrainian president in his prayer for God:

‘to protect those who protect us, to save the lives of those who save the lives of others, to look after our mothers, to grant health to our grandmothers, to protect our fathers and grandfathers, to take care of our children, to save all Ukrainians, to save us from strife and division, to strengthen our will and our spirit, and not let us lose our Ukraine, nor our faith.’ 

P.S. Minutes before this weeklyword was mailed out, I received the following whatsapp from Yuriy, a pastor in Kyiv, reporting on this night’s attacks: 

“This is the first large-scale Sunday shelling of Ukraine since the beginning of the war. Aerial and ballistic missiles, drones and planes – nothing will stop Ukrainian churches from worshipping our Saviour and Lord this morning together! Your prayer is greatly appreciated!”

Jeff Fountain, Director of the Schuman Centre for European Studies. This article was first published on the author's blog, Weekly Word.