DAY 57 ~ Mariupol And The Fight For Democracy
The world watches the consequences of procrastination by the West
Those of us who care about humanity and who value democracy cannot help but be concerned that the West left it too late to help Ukraine. The brave soldiers left in Mariupol are being cornered, and while Zelenskyy has offered to negotiate and do a prisoner exchange, we all know that Putin doesn’t care about the Russian troops.
The Russians can’t go in guns blazing because the entire world is watching them, but he has chosen to ‘smoke’ and starve the survivors out. Is that even humane? The good news is that three buses managed to get through and evacuated a number of people in Mariupol, but this has taken weeks.
Many are wondering what the Russian plan is as they regroup and recruit more soldiers. Proving genocide is difficult and because the accusation has been made public while the invasion continues, it allows the aggressor to hide the evidence. In previous cases, genocide was usually discovered after the war when mass graves were discovered. In this case, bodies are being destroyed so as to remove all traces of any evidence. https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/genocide.shtml
This is important because if the Russians are found guilty of genocide, then it proves to all the Russians that the Kremlin has been feeding them a pack of lies, and the government will lose any credibility they have. The Kremlin has censored all information and has brainwashed the Russians, and the crime of genocide could lead to the downfall of the government if the Russians believe what the ICC says in their investigations.
Day 57 (21 April)
The deadline for the Ukrainian soldiers to surrender passed, and the Russians moved in closed to encircle them, probably because Putin is aware that he cannot get away with killing them as the world is watching.
Zelenskyy held talks with the Bulgarian Prime Minister who has offered support to Ukraine.
Canada has stated that they will be sending heavy artillery to Ukraine.
It is alleged that Ethiopians are signing up to fight for the Russians, not as volunteers but for money. Queues have been forming outside the Russian Embassy, where it is claimed those who sign up get paid £2,000.
The US offers another $800 million in assistance to Ukraine as the Prime Minister of Ukraine (Denys Shmyhal) visited the US Congress for meetings with Biden and other members of Congress.
The President of Lithuania has called upon the democratic world to unite in order to help Ukraine.
Zelenskky has been named as a recipient of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for acting to protect democracy.
The Danish and Spanish Prime Minsters have pledged to send more weapons after a solidarity visit to Kyiv.
Latvia and Estonia have stated that Russia’s war crimes include genocide. Perhaps other countries will follow, and that will force the UN to act, and gives other countries additional means to offer support to Ukraine.
On 27 April, there are reports that a sham referendum will be held in the occupied Kherson, to declare that it will be a ‘republic’ and that the people wish to be part of the Russian Federation.
Russia has allegedly rejected the request by the UN Secretary General for an Easter ceasefire.
A Russian diplomat has claimed that Russia will not stop the war until NATO stops assisting Ukraine. It seems that Russia wishes to control NATO, but it is a defensive alliance that does not attack, but merely defends. Therefore, like the UN it is no actual threat unless you attack or invade a country.
Thank you for keeping us upto date and informed. I haven't been able to concentrate so missed reading all your articles, however, thought you had saved them where I could catch up. I do hope that even if I delete my emails I can read and re-read. You are providing us with a great service! I know the German people were unaware of Hitler's genocide and there have been other countries since that have purged minorities, but to think Putin and those of his ilk believe if there is 'no evidence' such a heinous crime can't be proven and that makes it all right, is an indictment against our civilisation.
As the Russians regroup and recruit and the genocide continues and following reports that Canada will be sending heavy artillery to Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry has sanctioned 61 Canadians who, according to Russian officials, are involved in the "development, substantiation and implementation of the Russophobic course of the ruling regime in Canada" and are prohibited from entering Russia. The 61 Canadians include, among others, reporters and politicians, including our Toronto Mayor and the Premier of Ontario.