I have visited Kiev back in 2012. It was such a cheerful and vivid city. Great bars, friendly, amazing people.

But here we are in 2022.

I was born in former Czechoslovakia, and we were occupied by Russians for 40 years. We have seen the “peacemaking” Russian tanks coming in 1968, Prague Spring. Russian elites caused so much pain and tragedy in Eastern Europe, and yet, here they start again.

Despite the fact that Ukraine is not in NATO, I feel that this is also our war. Putin was slowly observing the vague reactions of the West and prepared the invasion. We should have said STOP!, much earlier.

But the same as in 1939 when Hitler took over former Czechoslovakia, the West still hoped to keep its comfort and closed the eyes. This cannot repeat. If Ukraine is occupied, Moldavia and Georgia will be just the next on the menu. I do not want Russian military basis being deployed on the Slovak-Ukrainian borders.

Ukraine should in a fast process become EU member, and NATO should at least support the military operations from the air. The harder it gets for Putin now, the less appetite he will have in the future and vice versa.

Here are some impressions from Ukraine back in 2012