War ends war

Ukraine’s first envoy to Manila Yuliia Fediv warned future Lasallian diplomats that peace won’t come from surrender, stressing that only resistance can defend democracy, protect civilians, and stop Russia’s advancing war machine.

 Fediv spoke on the historical background and political system of Ukraine. She reiterated how the Russian-Ukrainian war began, its repercussions on Ukraine and the world, and how it could end in peace.

 The envoy recounted the tragic state of her countrymen and the effect of the bloody hostilities on their daily life. 

 “While we are speaking today in this moment, my country and people are experiencing the sirens, bombings, and shellings from Russian drones and missiles,” she narrated.

“Each day, we have new victims of war, and it’s thousands and hundreds of people, not only the military people who are fighting on the battlefield but also the civilians, the women and children who are dying from Russian bombs each day.”

 Amid the devastation, Fediv recounted how Ukrainians used their creativity to improve their structures and to rebuild what had been destroyed by their invaders.

Bombproof bus stops, new schools, and in-built bomb shelters for children are some of the innovations they have developed.

 From the occupation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 to the launch of a full-scale invasion in 2022, Fediv described how her fellow Ukrainians have shown resistance against the Russian forces to defend their independence.

 “We are doing everything possible to take back our territories and to preserve our people’s lives,” she claimed.

“Now you see that the Russian troops are moving, but at the same time, the Ukrainian troops are fighting back. We need to understand that this war is an asymmetric war of the 21st century.”

 According to the diplomat, a strategic ploy of the Russian propaganda machine and disinformation campaign is promoting the narrative that labels their enemies as Nazis in order to justify Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

 “Why are we (called) Nazis? Because we want to speak our language, we want to preserve our culture, we want to listen to our anthem, we want to speak with our children in our own language, and for this, Russian propaganda names us as Nazis,” she stated. 

 Aside from the allegations of Nazism, Ambassador Fediv addressed how Russia uses culture and sports as a political tool which can project power and reinforce its positive image in the world. 

 “They are asking what Ukraine actually is if they do not have their own language, their own culture — it’s a part of Russia, it’s a small Russia,” she added. “That’s why it was crucial for us to maintain fighting against Russia in all fields — on the battlefield, in Ukraine, and in the minds of the people.”

 With the impact of war going beyond injuries sustained on the front line — also causing mental health issues and infrastructure losses — the Ukrainian ambassador recognized the importance of recovering from the strife and reconsidering democracy, international law, and organizations such as the United Nations.

 She remains optimistic that the warfare would soon be put to an end: “It’s just a people’s will. Because it’s a war between different values, between democracies and authoritarianism, between big guys in the room who can make decisions to invade, and without any punishment.” 

 “Because when we talk about the end of this war, it’s not just a signature of peace. It’s a bigger picture. It’s about the International Tribunal or International Criminal Court, where all war criminals will be punished and will be accountable. At the same time, it’s also the security guarantees for Ukraine, that we will never be invaded, hopefully in the next 100 years,” she added.

 Fediv noted they are left with no other choice but to retaliate, as it would be like picking between striking back and losing their lives on the battlefield, or stopping resistanceand dying in concentration camps instead.

 “As for now, only one solution we as Ukrainians have is to fight back. It’s about who will be standing longer — we or Russians,” she said. “Because if we fight back, we still have hope for the future. If we stop, Russia will take us, and we know what will happen.” 

 “It will be many concentration camps in the territory of Ukraine where many Ukrainians will be taken hostage, killed, raped, etc,” she continued. “Occupation is a different kind of war. It’s a silent war.”