This was a difficult call. When I hung up, I knew it was the last time I talk to this person

This was a difficult call. When I hung up, I knew it was the last time I talk to this person.

What's in minds of Russians? I wish to rather analyze some prosperous nations and learn from them. However we're attacked by Russians, so we must know on what ground they're standing. With that question, I called a Russian friend from whom I haven't heard since the beginning of the war. To my question, I received the apathetic answer: "Many people, many opinions. I refrain from talking about this topic."

There is nothing wrong to be out of politics, nothing wrong with not knowing what's going on, and nothing wrong with staying away from pressing issues. However, when you hear explosions, hide in a bomb shelter for hours, and leave belongings behind with a clear understanding that high chances you never see your apartment building again (frankly that's the easiest), it's just a little bit hard to stay "out of politics." It's slightly difficult to say: "It doesn't concern me."

We studied together in Europe and that person lives right now in the EU, so I'm talking not to an "average" Russian surrounded by the propaganda machine. Yet, the tone of the her voice sounded not as we discussing war a few hours away but as we're talking about tomatoes. How to water a tomato plant? Are cylindrical tomatoes taste better than those of a circle shape? Or perhaps it's a matter of color and yellow tomatoes are the best. Even if I'm not shooting the occupants today, I feel the pain of those who lost someone in this war, and I acknowledge heroes who gave their lives protecting my country. Ukraine hasn't fallen and Ukraine will win this war because of people ready to fight and because we have no apathetic people. Every single person is doing their best to get rid of the occupants.

Our neighbor is challenging the world order that existed for 80 years. Wars were taking place but never so detrimental as this one with such far-going consequences. Why is Russian-Ukrainian war is more important than any other conflict? Because if Ukraine will fall then Taiwan and Hong Kong have no chances. If Ukraine will fall then Georgia and Moldova have no chances. If Ukraine will fall then it would prove the complete absence of any international order and no nation is safe. In this scenario, the world would make a full circle from the tragedy of the two world wars to oblivion. Then any international organizations created to preserve the world peace is just a clumsy joke of bureaucracy.

Ukraine now, maybe for the first time in a few hundred years, is highly successfully kicking Russian unwelcome asses on its territory. Why? Because we don't have indifferent people who think they're out of politics. All brave men fighting know crystal clear what they are fighting for. I can't stress enough how brave and professional the Ukrainian military is today, how well local defenses are structured and how amazing is the job of every single volunteer including all in our dear western neighborhood countries.

Neither NATO nor the world should take the amazing job of Ukrainians for granted. We have today a normal middle-age style war when one country wants to expand its territory at the cost of its closest neighbor using every trick in a book and desperately trying to justify its actions as an act of kindness. Ukrainian military now has the bravery of soldiers in France in 1914-1918. We all ask NATO today: "NATO, close the sky!" NATO, close the sky before this war reaches the death toll of the Great War.

NATO close the sky. That's what is needed. They don't want to do it because of the fear to cause a direct confrontation with Russia. The world wanted to avoid a confrontation in 2014. Did it help? No, we have war. Why someone would think today that they will be able to preserve a global Peace by allowing a local war to happen? Whatever is done by Ukraine or the West, Russian propaganda will turn the table upside down and no reasonable man will be able to understand. Western leaders say that Mister Putin has nuclear weapons. Even if his nuclear weapons work in the same way as the Russian Army, it's still a threat. However, no reasonable man can understand him and he will manipulate with a red button in any case.

Closing the sky is an act of unity. That's what is needed. I remember spending Christmas with a wonderful family in California. I recall the level of awareness with what they were discussing the politics. I thought, no wonder the US has such a good level of life. Americans care about their government. When we dig deeper into things happening in our country we can keep our government under control. Belarusian people tried so hard and it's pain to see them suffering from their dictator. Russians haven't even tried. With such an attitude, I don't believe they will have any revolution anytime soon to change their government. Thus, we have to make it clear to the Russian government that the worlds is behind Ukraine and NATO can close the sky. Russian propaganda is telling that flowers will fall under their tanks in Ukraine when we welcome “liberators.” Not flowers but death awaits anyone who tries to impose a Russian World on Ukrainian soil and closing the sky is needed to bring peace on this soil at least from airstrikes.

In Russia or Belarus, for such a post one goes to prison because the majority is "out of politics." Let us stand in unity. NATO close the sky now.

#StopPutinNow #CloseTheSky #UkraineRussianWar #NoFlyZone #Ukraine #StandForUkraine