SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Woman reacts at Kyiv memorial for fallen Ukrainian fighters on third anniverary of Russian invasion
(Photo by SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images)
Three Years Of Heroism
Feb 24, 2025
On the third bleak anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine - no it wasn't the other way around - a dozen western leaders of actual democracies came to Ukraine for commemorative events in solidarity, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy released a somber, wrenching video thanking his people for their three years of resistance, bravery, and unity. No finger-pointing, self-serving, transactional bullshit. Just grit and gratitude. This is leadership.
At the Ukraine events, Western leaders warned of the war's wider implications for global security even as the U.S. shamefully withdraws from its responsibilities on the whim of a Putin-beholden thug. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoed the recognition that the war is "not just about Ukraine." "(It's) about the rules and the values and the principles of sovereignty, of independence, territorial integrity that protects every country in the world," he said. "All of us rely on those rules to be able to build peace and security.”
In The Atlantic, Franklin Foer praises Zelinksy for having stoically taken on his new role as “a sturdy bulwark against autocracy.” His very presence, Foer notes, "reprimands everyone who surrendered to Trump." Summoning a scene that recalled "the darkest days of oligarchic rule," Foer describes the Godfather-like moment earlier this month when U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent slipped a piece of paper across the table to Zelensky, intoning, “You really need to sign this.” In response to Trump's sordid extortion attempt - demanding he give the U.S.the rights to $500 billion worth of Ukraine’s minerals - Zelinksy gravely declined with, "I can’t sell our state.”
He later explained that paying back the sum could take 250 years, and he could not sign something "that 10 generations of Ukrainians will have to repay” - never mind it would also likely mean a loss of their essential sovereignty. With his integrity and his fortitude, Zelensky has put to shame the cowards, bootlickers and quid-pro-quo hucksters, both here and around the world, who have bent the knee to America's greedy new mad king, thus making him what Foer calls "the global leader of the anti-authoritarian resistance." Even on this dark occasion, he only obliquely referenced his lonely stance, thanking "most of our partners" for their support. We, in turn, thank him. Foer: "He reminds despairing liberals, 'We are still here.'”
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Abby Zimet
Abby Zimet has written CD's Further column since 2008. A longtime, award-winning journalist, she moved to the Maine woods in the early 70s, where she spent a dozen years building a house, hauling water and writing before moving to Portland. Having come of political age during the Vietnam War, she has long been involved in women's, labor, anti-war, social justice and refugee rights issues. Email: azimet18@gmail.com
On the third bleak anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine - no it wasn't the other way around - a dozen western leaders of actual democracies came to Ukraine for commemorative events in solidarity, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy released a somber, wrenching video thanking his people for their three years of resistance, bravery, and unity. No finger-pointing, self-serving, transactional bullshit. Just grit and gratitude. This is leadership.
At the Ukraine events, Western leaders warned of the war's wider implications for global security even as the U.S. shamefully withdraws from its responsibilities on the whim of a Putin-beholden thug. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoed the recognition that the war is "not just about Ukraine." "(It's) about the rules and the values and the principles of sovereignty, of independence, territorial integrity that protects every country in the world," he said. "All of us rely on those rules to be able to build peace and security.”
In The Atlantic, Franklin Foer praises Zelinksy for having stoically taken on his new role as “a sturdy bulwark against autocracy.” His very presence, Foer notes, "reprimands everyone who surrendered to Trump." Summoning a scene that recalled "the darkest days of oligarchic rule," Foer describes the Godfather-like moment earlier this month when U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent slipped a piece of paper across the table to Zelensky, intoning, “You really need to sign this.” In response to Trump's sordid extortion attempt - demanding he give the U.S.the rights to $500 billion worth of Ukraine’s minerals - Zelinksy gravely declined with, "I can’t sell our state.”
He later explained that paying back the sum could take 250 years, and he could not sign something "that 10 generations of Ukrainians will have to repay” - never mind it would also likely mean a loss of their essential sovereignty. With his integrity and his fortitude, Zelensky has put to shame the cowards, bootlickers and quid-pro-quo hucksters, both here and around the world, who have bent the knee to America's greedy new mad king, thus making him what Foer calls "the global leader of the anti-authoritarian resistance." Even on this dark occasion, he only obliquely referenced his lonely stance, thanking "most of our partners" for their support. We, in turn, thank him. Foer: "He reminds despairing liberals, 'We are still here.'”
Abby Zimet
Abby Zimet has written CD's Further column since 2008. A longtime, award-winning journalist, she moved to the Maine woods in the early 70s, where she spent a dozen years building a house, hauling water and writing before moving to Portland. Having come of political age during the Vietnam War, she has long been involved in women's, labor, anti-war, social justice and refugee rights issues. Email: azimet18@gmail.com
On the third bleak anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine - no it wasn't the other way around - a dozen western leaders of actual democracies came to Ukraine for commemorative events in solidarity, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy released a somber, wrenching video thanking his people for their three years of resistance, bravery, and unity. No finger-pointing, self-serving, transactional bullshit. Just grit and gratitude. This is leadership.
At the Ukraine events, Western leaders warned of the war's wider implications for global security even as the U.S. shamefully withdraws from its responsibilities on the whim of a Putin-beholden thug. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoed the recognition that the war is "not just about Ukraine." "(It's) about the rules and the values and the principles of sovereignty, of independence, territorial integrity that protects every country in the world," he said. "All of us rely on those rules to be able to build peace and security.”
In The Atlantic, Franklin Foer praises Zelinksy for having stoically taken on his new role as “a sturdy bulwark against autocracy.” His very presence, Foer notes, "reprimands everyone who surrendered to Trump." Summoning a scene that recalled "the darkest days of oligarchic rule," Foer describes the Godfather-like moment earlier this month when U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent slipped a piece of paper across the table to Zelensky, intoning, “You really need to sign this.” In response to Trump's sordid extortion attempt - demanding he give the U.S.the rights to $500 billion worth of Ukraine’s minerals - Zelinksy gravely declined with, "I can’t sell our state.”
He later explained that paying back the sum could take 250 years, and he could not sign something "that 10 generations of Ukrainians will have to repay” - never mind it would also likely mean a loss of their essential sovereignty. With his integrity and his fortitude, Zelensky has put to shame the cowards, bootlickers and quid-pro-quo hucksters, both here and around the world, who have bent the knee to America's greedy new mad king, thus making him what Foer calls "the global leader of the anti-authoritarian resistance." Even on this dark occasion, he only obliquely referenced his lonely stance, thanking "most of our partners" for their support. We, in turn, thank him. Foer: "He reminds despairing liberals, 'We are still here.'”
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.