Date: February 28, 2022
Like everyone, I have been following the unfolding tragedy in Ukraine. The New York Times podcast, “The Daily,” has been an excellent source for the news, with reporters in Ukraine and Russia sharing in careful, vivid detail the different perspectives of those two countries. I have found the reporting so moving, as they share the stories of people deciding whether to pick up a gun and defend Ukraine or flee with their children.
How exactly this drama will unfold is unknown. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a Jewish actor and comedian prior to becoming a statesman, is probably right that if Russia occupies Kyiv, he will be killed. Russian military power is considerable. And the sense of grievance exhibited by President Putin suggests he would consider a whole range of possibilities. The capacity of the West to defend this democracy against Russia is limited.
Meanwhile, we will all pay a price. Gas will be more expensive, the stock market more volatile. But most important of all, precious human lives will be lost. I ask the entire VTS Community to please follow the news, pray for peace, and find ways to support Ukraine.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President