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EESTI ELU reedel, 11. veebruaril 2022 — Friday, February 11, 2022
Nr. 6
You turned Canada blue and yellow!
English-language supplement to the Estonian weekly “EESTI ELU” Tartu College Publications Founding Chairman: Elmar Tampõld Editor: Laas Leivat 3 Madison Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 2S2 T: 416-733-4550 • F: 416-733-0944 • E-mail: editor@eestielu.ca Digital: www.eestielu.ca
Putin: Ukraine belongs to us and those who disagree are Russophobes A rambling article entitled, “On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians’, written July 2021 for Vladimir Putin, was packed with references to ethno-cul tural and geo-political de velopments over the centuries. It justified Russia’s intention to bring Ukraine back into its fold. Not surprisingly, it didn’t address the fervour of Ukrainians asserting their right to self-determination. Exposing the innate national istic motive for the Kremlin’s current threatening stance aimed at Ukrainian sovereignty, the article stated: “When I was asked about Russian-Ukrainian relations, I said that Russians and Ukrainians were one people – a single whole. …. It is what I have said on numerous occa sions and what I firmly believe. … For we are one people.” When history does not sup port the Kremlin’s geo-political objectives, the government and its proxies at home and abroad deny or distort historical events for the domestic as well as the foreign audiences. This has also been applied to the history of Ukrainian statehood. The article also clearly accused the West of infecting Ukrainians with the Russo phobia presenting itself in Ukraine. The article emphasized that the rift with Russia resulted not only from some minor mis steps of Moscow but “also the result of deliberate efforts by those forces (Western) that have always sought to undermine our unity. The formula they apply here has been known from time immemorial – divide and conquer”. The article continues. “All the subterfuges associated with the anti-Russian (Russophobia) project are clear to us. And we will never allow our historical territories and people close to us living there be used against Russia.” It’s been a knee-flex reaction of Putin’s Kremlin that any Western mention of Russian aggression is labeled as ‘Russo phobic’. It’s aimed to muster the Russian public’s support in claiming to be the innocent victim of Western machinations. In fact, a detectable amount of ‘Putinophobia’ might actually be spurring anti-Kremlin senti
ments because of his steady march towards a repressive autocracy and especially his recent bullying of Ukraine. But the West does not suffer from any discernible or believable Russophobia targeting the Russian people. Recently, Estonian-based Propastop, states that the con cept of Russophobia was only occasionally used prior to 2014, and then mainly by low-level officials in reference to the Baltic States. In 2014, the year of Russian attacks into Crimea and Ukraine’s Donbas, the term Russophobia as an epithet became part of Presidential as well as governmental common rhetoric, especially in official narratives covering the protec tion of a ‘traditional Russia’ from Western liberal values. Any criticism of Russian aggression against Ukraine was immediately tied to Russo phobia. Moscow stressed that the international community’s protests to Russia’s invasion of independent countries was fueled by a Western hatred and fear of Russians. Russians and Russia were the victims, not the perpetrators. Propastop reminds us that ‘phobia’ is a reference to fear. Fear can be rational and justi fied. But fear may also be irrational and therefore a psy chiatric illness – a phobia – a psychosis, which is precisely the Kremlin’s intent, to ascribe opposition against Russian aggression as an illness. Russian propagandists claim the west suffers from xenophobic, anti-Russian hysteria when it accuses Russia of aggression. Putin’s ongoing misinforma tion campaign includes claims that Ukraine is about to join NATO in the near future. But both the West and the Kremlin know that this is not under consideration currently and won’t be in the near future. A 1995 study on NATO expansion concludes that countries in volved with existing territorial disputes are denied accession. And this understanding is still the guiding principle in any future NATO enlargement, in spite of the promises made to Georgia and Ukraine at the Bucharest Summit of 2008 in which NATO ministers wel
February 7, 2022. OTTAWA, ON. On February 6, thirty communities from all ten provinces joined together to rally in support of the Ukrainian people in their fight against Russia’s aggres sion. They called on the Government of Canada to provide Ukraine with defen sive weapons immediately. “It was truly moving and inspiring to see communities from all 10 provinces – from St. John’s on the Atlantic coast – to Victoria on the Pacific coast, and more than 2 dozen places in between – come to gether to show that Canadians Stand With Ukraine!” stated Alexandra Chyczij, National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC). “Sunday’s events were a power ful message from Canadians to Prime Minister Trudeau, the Cabinet and to Members of
Parliament that Canada should provide Ukraine with defensive weapons immediately, to help Ukrainians defend themselves from Russia’s increasing aggression. To the people of Ukraine – we will always be with you in your fight to defend your freedom!” For photos from yesterday’s events, please see UCC Face book page: https://www.face book.com/ukrcancongress/ The UCC thanks everyone who organized and participated in yesterday’s events. In the coming days, the UCC will be sharing an overview of all the events across Canada. The cross-Canada events were widely covered by Canadian media. You can read the cover age here: https://www.ucc.ca/ 2022/02/07/stand-with-ukrainemedia-clippings-feb-6-2022/ We ask everyone to email their Member of Parliament and
Hate crime targeting Ukrainian Canadians in Toronto The Ukrainian Canadian community is appalled by the hate crime that targeted a Ukrainian-owned business in Toronto. Future Bakery, which displayed a #StandWith Ukraine banner to show soli darity with the Ukrainian people, was defaced under cover of night by cowards who support Russian presi dent Putin’s kleptocratic, criminal regime. Among other defacements, the phrases “F*ck Ukrian (sic) and Canada” were spray painted on the sign. The owner of Future Bakery, Mr. Borys Wrzesnewskyj, is a former member of Canada’s Parliament, a prominent com munity activist and leader, who has worked tirelessly for many years on defending those whose
comed the future possibility of the two countries becoming members. Putin may very well have shot himself in the foot. His reckless threats against Ukraine will very likely strengthen the resolve of NATO to toughen its defense capabilities rather than relax them. LAAS LEIVAT
human rights have been violated as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including the Indigenous Crimean Tatar People. Mr. Wrzesnewskyj and the Ukrainian Canadian com munity have previously been the targets of Russian state-led disinformation campaigns. “We will not be intimidated by cowards who hate our free doms and our way of life. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress calls on law enforcement to promptly and thoroughly inves tigate this act of hate against the Ukrainian Canadian com
tell them – Canada needs to arm Ukraine! MPs emails are Firstname. Lastname@parl.gc.ca You can find your MP by postal code here: https://www.ourcom mons.ca/members/en A draft email you can send: “Russia invaded Ukraine eight years ago, and the threat of a further Russian invasion grows every day. The Ukrainian people need Canada’s support in defending their country today. The US, UK, Baltic States, Poland, and other allies are already providing Ukraine with defensive weapons. As your constituent, I urge you to support Canada joining our allies and providing Ukraine with defensive weapons now.” More info: https://www.ucc. ca/2022/02/01/tell-your-mp-can ada-needs-to-arm-ukraine/
munity. This craven attack shows the importance of effec tively fighting disinformation campaigns led by the Russian state that target Canada, the Ukrainian Canadian and other Central and East European communities,” stated Alexandra Chyczij, National President of the UCC. “Recently, the Ger man government banned the RT (Russia Today) network, as have other countries. The UCC has long advocated for the Canadian government to take seriously the pernicious in fluence of Russian-state led dis information campaigns and the vitriol and hatred that they spread.” (Continued on page 12)
UCC President Alexandra Chyczij visits Future Bakery in solidarity with Mr. Wrzesnewskyj.
