DL Opinion columns

Chattanooga’s Helping Hands Reach Ukraine – by Deborah Levine

Originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

My brain was numb even before that White House meeting with Zelensky, Trump and Vance (Z,T, V). My brain cells started to explode days earlier when Trump declared Russia’s invasion was all Ukraine’s fault. And when Trump mentioned World War III, I was suddenly back in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis when the Cold War almost went nuclear. Thankfully, the Soviet Union dissolved into 15 independent countries, including Ukraine which definitely doesn’t want to be re-colonized by Russia. So, now what? 

Let’s start by understanding that Russia’s invasion wasn’t Ukraine’s doing. We knew that and not long after the invasion, Mayor Tim Kelly signed a cooperative agreement with the war-torn Ukrainian city of Trostyanets only 20 miles from the Russian border. Celebrating our collaboration, Trostyanets’ Mayor Bova came to Chattanooga, describing how Russian troops occupying Trostyanets were special forces that Putin intended to lead parades celebrating the Russian takeover of Kiev, Ukraine’s capital. While that takeover never happened, the Russian troops killed Trostyanets civilians for amusement, stole groceries, computers, clothing, and kitchen items while demolishing the hospital, as well as schools, stores, and apartment buildings.

Given all this, I have no idea what to say about Trump’s anti-Ukraine remarks and the Z,T, V fiasco. So, I asked my Ukrainian-American friends how they felt. “I’m in pain, physical pain,” said my professional interculturist friend. She explained that her fellow Ukrainians always knew that Putin intended to reclaim independent countries like Ukraine, reconstructing Russia into a smaller, but stronger U.S.S.R. Having seen that Russia does’t keep its promises, the Ukrainian people have finally had enough and are bravely making their stand.”

As for the recent Z,T,V White House kerfuffle she explained that the misunderstanding was a language issue “Z MUST have an interpreter, because his English is imperfect. Thus, he said, “and you will feel…” and both T and V exploded, “You don’t have to tell us how we must feel…” – while Z meant to say more accurately/neutrally, “…you will see…” 

Maybe the White House kerfuffle was a misunderstanding, but the response has definitely been mixed. Many Ukrainians rallied around Zelensky since that the pride and dignity of Ukrainians are represented by their President. But some Ukrainians have expressed doubts about Zelensky and wish someone else had represented them in the White House negotiations. And others claim that it wouldn’t have mattered who represented Ukraine since Trump was determined to side with Russia. Lots of folks agree with that analysis, although some reject Trump as an agent of Russia, saying that it was just Trump’s negotiating ploy aimed at bringing Russia to the bargaining table.

I’d love to have the power to change what’s happening, but that’s not going to happen. So I take my cues from people like Chattanoogan, Angelika Riano: “I actually just got back from three weeks in Ukraine in a war zone. While there, I was personally immersed in what Ukrainians go through daily – Russian ballistic missiles hit a target just three miles from my apartment.” Angelika explained the reason for her trip: “We have the International Ukrainian Crisis Fund there. Its main mission is humanitarian and medical supplies support. Many Chattanoogans helped us by donating to the fund. We are very grateful…”

More people should know about Chattanoogan efforts to provide humanitarian aid. Regardless of what happens politically, the need for this help is obvious. It’s time to help replicate our efforts here in Chattanooga across the country. And call the folks that we elected to the U.S, Congress and remind them about our support. Let’s show the world how it’s done. Lobby now!

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