https://hungarytoday.hu/conservatives-meet-in-brussels-amid-drama-and-intimidation/ Populist Fidesz media are whining about Brussels, the rules and laws so I have one simple question: Why don't…
No Word about Russia or Putin
Last UPDATED 18:06– All of you know for sure that Putin gave order to Russian military to attack Ukraine from all sides, including from Belarus and Crimea, no longer limited to unmarked military convoys in the separatist areas. Of course all Hungarian media are full of, including the regime media.
From the regime first a short message of foreign minister Szijjártó on facebook “War is the worst case scenario. The task now, as always, is to guarantee the security of the Hungarian people. Our embassy in Kiev is working and it is open for Hungarians in Ukraine. My staff will provide all assistance on site” at 5:42 ►HU this morning. At 7:25 Szijjártó took a video of 5:25 minutes, but one has to wait until 3:10 the minister starts talking. And he was able to talk for 2:15 about the war, Hungarians in Ukraine generally, and the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia in detail. He said to stay with Ukraine and it’s territorial integrity. But not a single word about Russia or Putin, he succeeded completely in not mentioning who started this war ►HU.
Budapest lord Mayor Karácsony named the facts ►HU and started with “Putin has waged war in Europe, and it is the elementary duty of all members of Hungarian political community to condemn this Russian aggression both immediately and firmly, to stand up for Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty. We are bound not only by our choice of European values, but also by our responsibility for the Hungarians of Transcarpathia, and by the memory of 1956 and 1968 as well. For the Hungarian government, the peacock dance is over here and now. The Hungarian government must regain the capacity to act instead of being shackled by Viktor Orbán’s dealings with Putin and the pursuit of Russian interests and against Hungarian and European interests. This policy must end now.“
Independent MP Hadházy wrote: “Putin has waged a conquest war against Ukraine” and used a picture from 1956 telling “Russians go home” ►picture.
Péter Márki-Zay wrote ►HU: “In 1956, we learned what it was like when the Russians occupied an independent state. Now the same thing is happening before our eyes: Vladimir Putin’s Russia has attacked Ukraine. …. Orbán refuses to condemn the war launched by the Russians, he refuses to condemn Putin’s actions. …. We condemn the war started by the Russians, we stand up for Ukraine and the Hungarians in Transcarpathia!”
The regime media use the war to attack Unity for Hungary politicians for the intention of sending soldiers and weapons to Ukraine, while NATO members hardly would do so, not even Germany. While the politicians only are for staying loyal to our allies and none has talked about anything else but UN or NATO missions with Hungarian soldiers and the delivery of weapons is something all larger NATO members did with the exception of Germany.
And Orbán? Still now, 6 hours after Putin ordered this war he kept silence.
UPDATE 10:09 – Péter Jakab called Orbán Putin’s Trojan Horse ►HU, Gyurcsány Ferenc also took the word and wrote ►HU: “The Hungarian government, which has long pursued a special Russian policy different from the common Europeans, should not hide behind the skirt of Brussels now! Speak clearly, condemn the aggressor.” Still no further comment from the regime.
UPDATE 10:35 – All governments of the V4 have clearly sided with Ukraine in the war Russia began. All condemned Putin for his attack. All? No! Only Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic did so ►HU. In the latter also former PM Babis, who was unseated half a year ago, did the same. And Hungary? Still nothing besides the statements of the foreign minister, who succeeded not to name Russia or Putin. Orbán is still silent.
UPDATE 10:58 – Unity for Hungary has issued a press statement, presented by Péter Márki-Zay. “Hungary as member of EU and NATO has to condemn the aggression of Putin, the president of Russia, against Ukraine. We the united opposition stand behind the territorial integrity of Ukraine and against the Russian aggression and for the protection of the Hungarian brothers living in Ukraine.” Bad enough, he said, we just have seen yesterday how Viktor Orbán attacked us, especially me, for standing against the unity of the NATO, while it was Viktor Orbán who stood against the interests of NATO, it must be said that Orbán committed treason. Viktor Orbán betrayed the Hungarian nation, Viktor Orbán betrayed the EU, and Viktor Orbán betrayed the NATO, when he installed the Russian spy bank including immunity, or when he sent weapon smugglers not to the USA who searched for them, but home to Putin. Bad enough we also now have to conclude that Orbán is standing against our European allies. “We call him not only to stay behind the closed rows of NATO, but also to pass the sanctions of the EU, to suspend the Paks 2 nuclear power plant development, and to send the spy bank out of Hungary.” Further he called to gather today at 7 o’clock in the evening in front of the Russian embassy to demonstrate against this war. https://www.facebook.com/markizaypeter/videos/671015504027820/
UPDATE 12:10 – Orbán has posted a picture of the national security council. The same council he spent some time together on Tuesday without telling the world anything. I found an article on 444 quoting the propaganda machine of the Orbán regime ►HU during the last weeks. Bayer for example with “Russia will not attack Ukraine, a fool knows that.” András Bencsik said: “America is pushing to provoke an armed conflict,” …. “but it doesn’t come together, because the Russians won’t jump on it.” At another time Bencsik said: “let’s not go wrong, the United States is terribly eager to start a local war here in Eastern Europe.”
UPDATE 12:54– The border crossing point to Ukraine in Beregsurány seems to be very busy with arrivals from Ukraine. The coward in the Várszínház is still hiding. When he froze the prices for chicken carcasses the announcement was prepared with a broad media campaign of a special announcement coming. And is war in our neighbour country indeed less important than chicken carcasses? I am afraid for Orbán the answer is yes.
UPDATE 13:07 – Telex has put together the information how the regime media looked like this morning, 4 hours after Putin told the Russians on TV that he ordered war on Ukraine: It didn’t happen at that moment ►HU. BTW: Dutch PM Rutte said earlier this morning that there are “2 responsible, these are Russian and it’s president Putin.” The Hungarian regime still refuses to take the words Russia or Putin in their mouths.
UPDATE 13:23 – Magyar Hang has news from the Várszínház ►HU. Orbán obviously has condemned that Putin has waged war, I am unable to report whether Orbán dared to use the words Russia or Putin.
UPDATE 13:40 – Indeed on Orbán’s facebook account a short video appeared and Orbán has spoken about a Russian attack ►HU. For why this took so long he had no explanation. All steps would be done together with the EU. From some stupid reasons he declared that no Hungarian soldiers or warfare equipment would be installed in Ukraine, stupid, since this never has been in the discussion. But of course he won’t accept the irresponsible claims of the left that would endanger our energy security. Overhead cut would be of highest importance. He expects refugees from Ukraine (yes, he said refugees, not migrants.)
UPDATE 18:06 – Right now I got information about the corona situation from the Hungarian government. Therein the regime claims that the opposition right now wants to send soldiers to Ukraine. Because I wanted to get my vaccine I needed to register, now the regime is bombing me with spam full of lies! Another disgusting act of the Putyin Pincsi in the Várszíház!
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Orban’s silence is interesting for this reason. He could not have been kept in the dark about Putin’s plans, since everyone knew all along what was about to happen. He would not need any time to think out his response. So why is he waiting? Waiting for instructions but those are delayed because Putin has more urgent things to do than to send instructions to an insignificant subordinate.
But yes, he was kept in the dark – the initial silence, incl. of the whole propaganda machine, and the first confused statements prove they were not prepared and didn’t have a ready spin, this is why they jumped on the first remote opportunity as they saw the MZP’s sentence. A crude lie, but enough to feed the faithful.
Resuscitate Janos Kadar to invite the Russian tanks into Hungary.
On a personal note, this is one reason why I decided to become a Hungarian citizen, to have a say in my kids’ future, do we want a country that is cuddling up to Putin’s Russia on every possible occasion or one with a more positive attitude towards “the West”?
Time for the opposition to bring out the mini-Putin (clone) billboard adverts?
Of course on an international scale this will be a tragedy for the region and for Ukraine in particular, I hope the western alliances are able to offer more than words of support…
Changed by Momentum on February 1st, 2022
Yeah, I saw it online but haven’t noticed it in real life yet…
“Pici Putyin” ; works rather well …
The polling data here in the USA indicates massive opposition to greater involvement in the Ukraine beyond economic actions against Russia. Our public has become exhausted by repeated military deployments after our defeats in the middle east. Compared to our losses in the Vietnam war they are relatively small, but they are different. Because the US Army Reserves and National Guard units were repeatedly deployed in combat situations or up to a year at a time, whereas during the whole of the Vietnam War they were not. In the reserves we actually called ourselves “citizen solders” and many more of the dead and wounded in the middle eastern wars came from older part time solders with families servicing in reserve and National Guard Units to supplement income in many cases. This even included single moms who were wounded or killed.
I don’t advocate for military intervention by NATO, but the initial (sanctions) response obviously hasn’t prevented Putin from invading, so we need stronger, more coordinated (economic) actions, plus some kind of plan to defend Russia’s other neighbours in future
Orbán’s silence is logically a clear sign of deep personal and political crisis – A deep crisis of loyalty, which at the moment leaves him paralyzed.
He cannot help but realize that everything he worked for, in terms of a warm and close relationship with Putin’s Russia, now has vanished into thin air.
Michael, your conclusion that
”He cannot help but realize that everything he worked for, in terms of a warm and close relationship with Putin’s Russia, now has vanished into thin air.” is based on a misreading of the evidence. Following Putin’s incursions into Chechnya, Georgia and Crimea would have been sufficient to persuade a child of 5 years of age of less than average intelligence that Putin is untrustworthy and promotes his territorial ambitions at the expense of anyone or any country in his way.
His disappointment, if any, maybe based on the fact that he has just now realised that he will not be able to share the spoils by his annexation of Karpatalja. Putin will be unlikely to allow any part of. Ukraine be attached to NATO and EU.
I think Orbán realizes that depending on his actions today and during the coming weeks, not getting reelected could easily become a direct consequence.
The Viktor will try to “save” the overhead reductions, Paks 2, he will defend his deal with the Russian dictator about the gas, he needs to defend the vaccine factory, just to name some connections with the Russian dictator. The question is, will the EU and NATO accept this. If Hungary is loyal to its partners it may have to take some action against the Russian dictator. This will cost, and as we know the treasure chest is empty because of the election presents. One possibility may be to get money from China. (On very “good” conditions (:).
I think the Viktor is trapped in his own spiderweb now. he never thought of the fact that touching one spot of the web makes the whole web move, and cutting some important anchors make the whole web break together.
I agree. I believe (or at least would like to) that this might be a turning point in Orban’s path. Not to mention the pressure coming from the other EU and NATO members he will have to face now; no more beating around the bush.
What a pitiful response from so-called Foreign Minister Szijjártó, but not really surprising, as the Hungarian government does not have any values, only “interests”…
“Since the. NATO Alliance’s creation in 1949, Article 4 has been invoked seven times. On 24 February 2022, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia requested to hold consultations under Article 4 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
Orban’s Hungary is absent from the list of countries that have invoked Aarricle 4 this day.
Well at least it appears Hungary will allow war refugees across the border and will provide something for them. President Zelenskiy is really to put it simple fucking up. The highway between Kyiv and Liviv is packed with civilian traffic, I am hearing reports on National Public Radio in the USA from a reporter with a satellite phone who is trying to make it from Odessa to Liviiv describing chaos at gas stations and on and on.
There is no evidence of a strategic retreat of Ukrainian forces to create an enclave near Liviv where they might have some possible protection from the proximity of Polanish and NATO forces or at least an escape route. Apparently Zelenskiy has ordered his army to defend their assigned positions, in many cases hold up in world war I style trenches with anti-tank weapons and some artillery. It appears that these troops may have no air cover because AP is reporting that Ukraine’s air defenses have been destroyed and its combat airfields repeatedly hit by missiles. It is simply impossible for a modern ground war to be conducted without air cover against a full scale Russian invasion. .
President Zelensky not long ago broadcast a statement that included this: “”We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities.” I would suggest the Russians will simply level any areas of armed resistance in the cities with air strikes, artillery, and fire from tanks before they advance into any street by street combat. Zelensky has rejected most of the intelligence he was given by NATO countries and no doubt is operating on the skills he has as an actor. I have real doubts about his own survival in Kyiv which is critical for any protracted war against the Russians that will inflict high casualties on the Russian invaders and possibly create some demoralization in Russia..
I want to thank Istvan for providing this quote from MZP in his post “We condemn the war started by the Russians, we stand up for Ukraine and the Hungarians in Transcarpathia!” I like the first part but not the attempt to play up to Hungarian nationalism in the second part. As far as I know the Hungarian speakers of Transcarpathia are Ukrainians too. MZP knows for sure the great danger is that Putin has already stated that Ukraine as it exists is not a legitimate nation and in his speech he noted some of its land mass was taken from Hungary and it is not impossible Putin may offer border land near Hungary to Orban to protect the Hungarian speakers from the Ukrainian nazis as part of his already announced denazification plan. MZP is walking on a minefield here by discussing Hungarian speakers in this way. Maybe this will appear to Hungarians providing MZP with nationalist credentials or something. Hopefully Orban will just say no to any offer from Putin for Hungary to provide a protective force for the Hungarian speakers from the Nazis led by Zelensky apparently.
Together with our European Union and NATO allies, we condemn Russia’s military action, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in a Facebook video released after the National Security Operations Tribunal meeting. Here is a link to that video https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=4902338833184110
But Orban’s pro-Russian stance is obvious by the fact that he has mobilized his police forces and maybe even the TEK to defend the Russian embassy in Budapest from pro-MZP and opposition party demonstrators.
This reuters story https://news.yahoo.com/leaving-behind-possessions-pets-ukrainians-104235740.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall includes a video of an interview with refugees crossing into Poland. According to one of them they escaped from Liviv where air raid sirens were blaring. It appears President Zelensky did not implement any strategy to create a safe haven in Liviv for his government to retreat too despite such a strategy having been discussed with the Ukrainians by US military advisers according to numerous reports.
Oh by the way a while ago when I posted about my own daughter deploying to Poland as a commander of civil affairs forces assisting the 82 airborne to aid the Poles with possible refugees someone posted she will be bored and have nothing to do. I suspect she is very busy right now.
444 had this short video, apperantly showing a long line waiting at Beregsurány roundabout noon today
https://streamable.com/c0gd1i
The scenario of Putin invading Ukraine was and is completely outside logical arguments of a strategist. Putin already had access to the Black Sea through the annexation of Crimea. The attack on Ukraine bears the escalation of a world war and the question of “where does Putin stop”. Is the alleged strategy of wanting to establish old borders perhaps pure narcissism or more.
My personal judgement about the national expressions of Márki-Zay I think they are both reasonable measured and a need in these times. Caring about others instead of the loud and selfish actions Orbán incinerated. And what Orbán said I summarised in the update I wrote at 13:40. Indeed he condemned, he because all allies did so – but not too much seen the gas price!
Yes, the chaos in Ukraine seems to be enormous. Here now the entire day foreign TV is running, all day long only one topic. Not so on Hungarian TV, the short time I watched M1 opposition bashing was more important! Not long ago Macron spoke life after an online statement early in the morning, Scholz turned up before the press this morning, but Orbán has his say about the gas price, sorry, the situation on facebook. Hungarians are not cut off from information, but we need to go to search for information. So I have seen the most different reports from Ukraine, just as you wrote, directly reporting from a car as well. It is hard to tell how defence is organised, there were some reports what cities were attacked by missiles, incidentally where jets and helicopters are involved in fights as well. Besides the fact that Russians said that they destroyed the airfields and that Romania reported that planes went down there it is impossible to know the situation is. I saw Zelensky in several places with different backgrounds today. Where is this wooden doorpost or where hangs that cloth with Ukrainian coat of arms? We can’t know. Zelensky tells about heavy resistance, Russian media about masses of defected Ukrainian soldiers. Anybody will tell us about strategies or defeats. The first casualty, when war comes, is truth!
Russians launched a helicopter based commando attack on a military air field northwest of the capital not long ago. Video from cell phones on social media indicate several Russian helicopters were shot down. This no doubt is a prelude on a direct commando assault on President Zelensky that the US warned him about urging him to leave the capital, hopefully he is changing locations frequently. I am trying to capture some of the photo’s of citizens fleeing Kiev that I am seeing, but many seem to have blocking software attached. One shot taken from high up shows major roads filled with cars into the distance.
Hopefully MZP will make a good speech at any demonstration near the Russian Embassy. I obviously do not agree with our host’s analysis of MZP’s reference to Hungarian speakers in Ukraine separate from the Ukrainian nation as a whole, but I made my point enough said.
This NBC news story contains video from Kiev showing the level of panic in terms of cars blocking roads it is about 10 minutes old https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/video/ground-ukraine-amid-russian-military-operation-83081170 The main NBC reporter on the story is in Liviv where she indicates there have been no direct Russian attacks as yet, she indicates there have been attacks at nearby military bases however. She also discussed the backed up roads leading to Poland.
https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2022/2/24/photos-aftermath-of-russian-air-strikes-in-ukraines-kharkiv contains photos of civilian casualties from Russian air strikes in Ukraine.
I have seen some facebook posts of small demonstrations in Russia against their country’s invasion of Ukraine. These people are real heroes and they are being arrested by Putin’s police as fast as possible.
The Russians clearly went mad by attacking in the Chernobyl nuclear exclusion zone which is about a hundred miles from Kiev. Apparently there has been serious combat inside this radio active zone over the last 5 hours. Zelenskyy stated in a post “Our defenders (of the zone) are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 is not repeated. This is a declaration of war on the whole of Europe.”
There are reports in the US media of combat between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the suburbs of Kiev now with some claims of artillery fire. CNN reports that Russian forces appeared to be encircling Kyiv and look poised to attempt a direct invasion of the city. Ukrainian officials believe the Russian plan is to overthrow the Ukrainian leadership and install a pro-Russian government.
Apparently President Zelensky is in the government section of the capital that is now being probed by Russian special forces.
large anti-war protests in St. Petersburg too, see this Twitter account: https://twitter.com/AVindman?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1496900368344797184|twgr^|twcon^s1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Flive%2Fworld-europe-60454795
latest from Hadházy’s facebook feed:
“from now on the situation is very simple: we can choose between Europe and Russia on 3 April”
Hadházy’s latest facebook post (exaggeration?):
“there wouldn’t be a Russian-Ukrainian war if Orbán Viktor hadn’t blocked Ukraine’s NATO membership for years”
If Ukraine would be NATO member probably the war didn’t happen. Putin knows that a war with NATO would be the end. For him and all humans at least on the Northern hemisphere, perhaps for life on earth. Him being the ruler of the planet for a few weeks from a bunker? I hope this is not his ambition, otherwise we will see it way too soon.
But it is also hard to believe that Ukraine would be NATO member, even if Orbán did not block. A country that is partly occupied by the large neighbour and partly under control of separatists would make little chance getting admitted. Not as long as these problems wouldn’t be solved.
that is excellent and courageous on the part of Putin opponents in Russia
The Guardian ran an extensive article about the Russian protests. Putin has arrested 1,300 already according to the article.
https://telex.hu/belfold/2022/02/24/ellenzeki-tuntetes-orosz-ukran-haboru this is an excellent summary of the speeches given at the demonstration held outside the Russian embassy in Budapest.
My eldest daughter is there, says its a great atmosphere…
I will tell everyone I am very concerned about President Zelensky surviving the night and I am praying he gets out of the trap being set for him. Putin has already demonstrated he will not hesitate to kill those who oppose him. Zelensky is a young guy with a wife and two children, I hope his family is out of Kiev. Below is a photo of President Zelensky and his wife
If as suggested the plan is to install a puppet government in Ukraine, Zelensky is in grave danger, just look at what Putin has done to opponents within Russia (e.g. Navalny).
The EU has just announced “massive sanctions” including the energy sector. I assume Orbán must also have agreed to them. I wonder If and when Paks2 will be raised within the EU…
Actual he just said exactly that Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said that Russian saboteurs had entered Kyiv about one hour ago, and that he was “target No. 1” for Russian forces, followed by his family. I assume that means his family did not evacuate as reported by the Nzy Times.
Brückner Gergely from telex.hu: https://telex.hu/gazdasag/2022/02/24/mol-paks2-otp-gaz-olaj-magyar-erdekeltsegek-orosz-ukran-haboru
“The Paks 2 nuclear investment was stumbling from the start, but from now on it would be even harder to build the nuclear power plant with “Vlad Putin”, Finland is already stepping back, and VEB Bank, which is financing the project, is also directly subject to the sanctions.”
Orbán’s propaganda machine has been given a new lie to spread and a use against the democratic side here. it is in the statements, on television, in the SMS sent by the COVID related “Information Center”, etc. something like:
“We reject the calls of the left to send troops and weapons into Ukraine (no such calls)
We must protect the Hungarians (Magyar emberek) (nobody is threatening Hu)
We must stay out of this ”
The straight lie is the twisting MZP’s words about acting together with NATO, if it decides to do this ( which it doesn’t have to and it won’t, as Gen.Secretary Stoltemberg stated on several occasions).
Obviously Orbàn is again shirking his obligations as a NATO member, but why I’m not surprised at this gypsy horse trader mentality ….
The “magyar emberek” in need of protection probably relates to Kárpátalja…?
No, no, OV was explicitly talking about Hu.
Actually he/propaganda talk about refugees, but did not separate Hungarian ones.
There was also a mention of “if armed groups try to enter Hu” incl. by the defense minister.
It was already established in antiquity, that one of the most important task of a military leader is to figure out the temperament of the enemy leader.
Putin well understood Biden’s temperament from the 2021 Afghan fiasco.
“No American boots on the ground” was translated as ‘Putin, you can do whatever you want with Ukraine’.
In my opinion, Biden should have sent troops to Ukraine a month ago, after a request from Ukrainian government – with specific defensive orders.
This would have forced Putin to think twice about attacking.
Unfortunately, Biden is a tired, slow leader with tremendous amount of risk avoidance
Istvan Ch
Wasn’t the Uk army supplied with some light/mobile anti aircraft and anti tank weapons like stingers or M72s ? Wouldn’t those be the most efficient way to inflict damage without air cover?
Yes they were and according to a US navy analyst commenting on a battle for a military airport outside of Kiev those weapons were decisive in forcing a retreat by the Russians. He also indicated a good number of tanks and APCs were destroyed by other high tech weapons.
Really the victory at the airport was a significant moral builder for the defense of the capital according to many who are watching all of this carefully and are infantry tacticians.
The US news paper The Wall Street Journal actually described this battle in this article titled “Ukraine Under Russian Fire: Hiding in Basements, Helicopters Overhead” which is behind a paywall, I am a subscriber. It was very much a civilian perspective of a doctor’s family suddenly trapped in a combat zone.
At one point during the Battle of An Loc in 1972 I was on the second floor of a terrified French speaking Vietnamese family’s home spotting artillery fire. Even in the middle of all of that I felt horrible for the little kids scared to death.
A chilling illustration of the atmosphere and of how decisions are made in a dictatorship… watch the expressions and body language too
https://youtu.be/o9A-u8EoWcI
It was already standard advice in antiquity that one of the most important task of a military leader is to figure out the temperament of the enemy leader.
Putin well understood Biden’s temperament from the 2021 Afghan fiasco.
“No American boots on the ground” was translated as ‘Putin, you can do whatever you want with Ukraine’.
In my opinion, Biden should have sent troops to Ukraine a month ago, after a request from
Ukrainian government – with specific defensive orders.
This would have forced Putin to think twice about attacking.
Unfortunately, Biden is a tired, slow leader with tremendous amount of risk avoidance
“It is always an option, but right now that’s [kicking out Russia from the SWIFT banking system] not the position that the rest of Europe wishes to take,” Biden told reporters.
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/595723-biden-defends-allowing-russian-access-to-swift
Yes cutting off swift for the Russians will means a lot of payments may not be made.
Apparently, it would make the delivery of gas from Russia to EU Member States very difficult if not impossible since payments could no longer be made through the swift network.
Actually President Biden lacks the support of the overwhelming majority of Americans according to polling in the last few days for sending in forces to Ukraine. tappanch the public was exhausted by our middle eastern wars. It is good to see a post from you tappanch.
Two of my friends and I attended this rally in support of Ukraine today https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/2/24/22949164/ukrainians-chicago-protest-russian-invasion-ukraine Then we had the luxury of retreating to a tavern to have some vodka, my Polish friend insisted we have a drink in honor of the heroes of Ukraine fighting for their freedom.