A wonderful article , Max, thank you. The Ukrainian people are an amazing people— smart, entrepreneurial , creative, resilient — who have been let down by America and in a way have proved superior to the U.S. and Russia. Their war could have and should have ended within six months of being attacked by Russia, but the U.S. frittered away the opportunity and its responsibility to defend Ukraine and Europe. I regularly support Ukraine, and will continue doing so.
My first visit to Kyiv was in 1998, on a journalism fellowship. The city struck me as being in fairly desperate straits and very Minsk like Soviet. My "hotel" demanded up front cash payment at the desk, which I flatly refused to fork over. I was issued a single micro "bath" towel and a soap "bar" as big as my thumbnail. The Metro resembled a hospital ward. But just a few years later, a more vibrant picture. And when I visit after Putin’s invasion, I found the city you're describing. Innumerable food choices, a clean, safe hotel w a spectacular rooftop view at breakfast, all the rest...Not Minsk!
Thank you for putting faces to the news stories. We hear so much about the war, but little about the vibrant, pluralistic society these marvelous people have built and which is so deserving of survival, prosperity and protection. Clearly a part of Europe.
A wonderful article , Max, thank you. The Ukrainian people are an amazing people— smart, entrepreneurial , creative, resilient — who have been let down by America and in a way have proved superior to the U.S. and Russia. Their war could have and should have ended within six months of being attacked by Russia, but the U.S. frittered away the opportunity and its responsibility to defend Ukraine and Europe. I regularly support Ukraine, and will continue doing so.
My first visit to Kyiv was in 1998, on a journalism fellowship. The city struck me as being in fairly desperate straits and very Minsk like Soviet. My "hotel" demanded up front cash payment at the desk, which I flatly refused to fork over. I was issued a single micro "bath" towel and a soap "bar" as big as my thumbnail. The Metro resembled a hospital ward. But just a few years later, a more vibrant picture. And when I visit after Putin’s invasion, I found the city you're describing. Innumerable food choices, a clean, safe hotel w a spectacular rooftop view at breakfast, all the rest...Not Minsk!
Thank you for putting faces to the news stories. We hear so much about the war, but little about the vibrant, pluralistic society these marvelous people have built and which is so deserving of survival, prosperity and protection. Clearly a part of Europe.
My great grandparents left Ternopil, Ukraine in 1905 and settled in Portage la Prairie. I dream of traveling to Ukraine one day.
This is amazing and inspiring - thank you for sharing this.
Wonderful piece!!!
YOUR WORK IS ALWAYS GREAT !
Thank you for this life-affirming account!