It’s always been a mismatched conflict. Big Russia impinging on little Ukraine. A heavy-handed totalitarian state bullying one that aspires to democracy. Outdated imperialism contrasts with a simple desire for progressive freedom.

The aggressive scorched earth strategy of the Russian military during the invasion has extracted a heavy toll on the Ukrainian economy, infrastructure, and population. The targeted attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure have created a catastrophic crisis in the Ukrainian healthcare system. Two hundred and fifty hospitals have been damaged or destroyed, fully ten percent of the total number of hospitals in Ukraine. According to the UNHRC, there are 7.1 million internally displaced people and 8 million refugees. In total, 17.6 million people require humanitarian assistance.

Americans may wonder whether Ukraine is worth the billions in U.S. support. After all, the country is remote and its culture seems alien. It’s terrible that cities are being destroyed, but these are places we’ve never heard of. Even if we accept the geopolitical importance of this ancient land and sympathize with a nation’s valiant effort to protect itself, the war grinds on inconclusively and is proving costly.

Taras Shevchenko, artist, poet, and activist of the Ukrainian national movement has inspired generations of Ukrainians. He is the most important figure in Ukrainian language and culture. His writings formed the foundation of modern Ukrainian literature, and he is considered the founder of the modern written Ukrainian language. His most famous monument, among many, stands in Shevchenko Park, facing Shevchenko National University in Kyiv.

The Russian President and Prime Minister serving continuously since late 1999, and perpetrator of the brutal war against Ukraine, has been shaped by the events of World War ll, his service in the KGB, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the desire to reestablish Russia to its former glory and as a counterbalance to the United States on the world stage.

Upon termination of the war, Ukraine will launch vigorous programs to rebuild and transform its economic, political, and social infrastructure to achieve its potential to become a key country in Europe. The valor, resilience, and determination demonstrated by Ukrainians, will have earned Ukraine entry into the European Union and NATO.

Lviv has played a crucial role in Ukraine's struggle for independence for hundreds of years and is considered the cultural capital of Ukraine. Lviv has survived many invasions and become a key staging ground for refugees since Putin's and Russia's unprovoked war in Ukraine, serving as an epicenter for millions of Ukrainians who fled fighting in the eastern part of the country.