Fortitude 🇺🇦

I’ve been following the war in Ukraine and, like all rational and civilised people, am horrified! Watching bombs landing on civilians and hearing the number of casualties, is heartbreaking. There are now millions of displaced people, just like you and I, fleeing for their lives! It beggars belief! This is 2022 but we are back to those dark days of the 20th century when greed, megalomania and senseless wars blighted innocent people’s lives!

Every morning, while I have breakfast in my warm, cosy home, I see the destruction of many cities in Ukraine. I listen to interviews with people fleeing, some literally running away with only the clothes on their backs. I shed tears when I see men putting their families onto trains and waving them goodbye. They’re staying to fight for their country after ensuring the safety of their loved ones. Russia’s aggression is baseless and barbaric! There is no excuse, no logic behind these attempts to take over a peaceful, sovereign state.

Ukraine needs help. The rest of the world cannot sit back and watch this genocide unfold. But could this help lead to world war three? Is that the reason why the western world and NATO appears to be dragging their heels? Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stands proud and strong, daily addressing his people and refusing to abandon his office in Kyiv! Such bravery and fortitude is humbling!

A definition of fortitude means that you have strength of mind to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with great courage. The first time I came across this word was my husband’s ex boss telling me that my husband had such fortitude. That was ten years ago when our lives were turned upside down by a cancer diagnosis. Months of crippling chemotherapy had almost brought my husband to his knees. But he had soldiered on and that was when fortitude was accurately applied to him. He was doggedly determined that he was going to overcome cancer and get well.

Watching Mr Zelenskyy every morning, I see his courage and mental strength! This definitely shows that he has fortitude, and bucket loads of it! He encourages his people to stand together against the oppressor! He repeatedly asks the west for help, speaking to presidents of powerful countries all around the world. Ukraine wanted to join NATO, which is one of Putin’s weak, feeble excuses for starting this war. Mr Zelenskyy is showing the world, by his actions, that he is defiant, brave, desperate yet stoically determined to get his country back from the brink of Russian oppression! He refuses to run and hide but remains visible and approachable!

So, as NATO and presidents of powerful nations hold umpteen meetings, convoys of Russian military equipment edges ever closer to Kyiv. It’s also down to members of the public to rally together and do what we can to help this catastrophe threatening stability and peace across Europe and the entire western world. Sanctions are beginning to bite but will be affecting us all. Maybe this is going to be the price we’ll have to pay for Ukraine’s freedom? Let’s hope it’s going to work! 🙏 🇺🇦