Comments by "CDF DeSantis" (@cdfdesantis699) on "Ukraine: What life is like under Russian occupation" video.

This analyst is right. Everyone's saying, "Oh, we need to do more for Ukraine," while seemingly not realizing that "doing more for Ukraine" is actually going to cost them personally. Fuel & food prices rise, inflation soars to new heights, & durable goods such as automobiles & computers become scarce & costly. Everyone's all for helping, as long as they don't have to actually GIVE UP anything to do it. Every evening our TV, computer screens, & social media show us the horrors happening in Ukraine, & we're shocked & appalled by them - but by God, we'd better not have to give up our caramel lattes to make them stop! No getting around it, though; the world is FAR too interconnected to prevent repercussions of this war from affecting everyone. We either turn our backs, pretend people aren't suffering & dying in their 1000's, or we suck it up, go all in, & bring it to as swift an end as possible. THAT way, the pinch will be over quickly; whereas ignoring the war will just drag its global effects on & on & on, & get worse & worse as time passes. If the war persists, possibly 40-50% of developing nations' populations will be facing starvation by the end of 2022. That's MUCH more than just a "minor inconvenience", & wiil probably result in severe social upheaval & further violent conflicts. No, it's decision time with regard to this war. The question is - how will our children & grandchildren view our decisions in 50 years' time, & will there be many UKRAINIAN citizens left to even CONSIDER the question? Slava Ukraine!
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@kennethjmurphy3364 Hi! Make Pres. Putin & his buddies pay for it! Analyst said couple days ago, that can be done. Their sanctioned assets CAN be used to rebuild Ukraine. Take a while to follow all the $$$ trails, but they SHOULD have to pay to restore the country they're tearing apart. Won't pay for the lives lost, though. Thanks for your comment.
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@ЯнаР-ш1ф Hi! If by "liberated", you mean "occupied", no reliable casualty information is coming out of those towns & cities. There's no way life under a hostile occupation force could EVER be considered "normal". At least 300 murdered civilians have been discovered & independently verified around Kyiv since the Russians withdrew. There's footage from Mariupol showing Russian soldiers loading dead civilians by the dozen into trucks. Satellite imaging from the outskirts of Mariupol shows what looks to be 900 fresh mass graves. An Indian news crew documented 1000 fresh graves of civilians, with markers showing date of death (from end of February-present) in a cemetery just outside of Chernihiv. 59 civilians were murdered at the train station in Kramatorsk by a Russian missile as they waited for an evacuation train. Civilian bodies still lie on the streets of Mariupol. 10 civilians were shot dead by Russian soldiers as they waited in a bread line, I think in Kharkiv. I can go on. These are just SOME of the murders I'm referring to. Thanks for your comment.
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@angelaadams9816 Hi! Thank you SO much for your comment. You hate mac & cheese, friend? Oh my! Yes, I think there are lots of people who want to see all this suffering in Ukraine ended, & are well aware of what has to be done. The Ukrainians are paying the highest cost of all, so the rest of us just have to tighten our belts so they get the help they so desperately need. The time for half-measured has passed. It's time to take decisive, immediate action. The Ukrainians DESERVE as much.
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@happytraveller8953 Hi! My point exactly! Can't remember who said it, but the quote is from someone famous from WW2, & goes something like, "They came for the Jews, but I'm not a Jew, so I did nothing, etc. etc...Now they've come for me, & there is no one left to help me.". I maintain that, if decisive measures are not taken NOW, eventually Germany, France, the UK, & at the end, even the USA, will answer a knock on their door 1 day, & open it to find the Russian bear standing on the doorstep. (By the way, the USA weren't the ONLY ones with their heads up their asses about COVID - people cheated all over the WORLD.). But the situation in Ukraine is alarming on SO many levels, & the atrocities are simply traumatizing to witness. We've got to get past our collective "me 1st" attitude, & bring this to an end. Thanks so much for your comment.
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@TomM60 Hi! If more people thought like you, friend, it would go a long way towards ending this war. I've actually had people tell me in other comments about the war that I've posted, that THEIR lives were too important to worry about what's going on "over there". How people can be so self-centered is BEYOND me! Thanks for your comment.
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@TallSilentGuy Hi! Isn't it telling that those of us who often struggle to make ends meet are the ones who most clearly understand what's necessary to help Ukraine? Need identifies with need. I know leaders are 1st & foremost concerned with their own citizens' issues; but they serve the WILL of their citizens, in democratic societies. We must make clear that we will not tolerate the horrific situation in Ukraine - 1) because the suffering is just unimaginable; 2) because if it's not stopped, it will spread like a cancer, & who knows whom it will affect next. Better to let a few things go, & focus on eradicating the cancer, rather than eventually being consumed by it. Thanks for your comment.
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@kayem3824 Hi! Yes, Ukraine could have rolled over & submitted to Pres. Putin's autocratic demands, giving up their right to exist as a free & independent nation. In ANY conflict, whether between individual persons, or nations, such as this war, 1 party ALWAYS has the option to go belly-up & submit to the other party's dictates. This approach works as well for bullies on the playground as it does for the bully sitting in the Kremlin. Thanks for your comment.
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@justmejustme1245 Hi! Thank you!
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@eternaleternus3214 Hi! I'm right there WITH you, friend! Have to pinch every penny till ol' Abe hollers. But I'm grateful for a roof over my head & food in my mouth. These poor folks in Ukraine ain't even got THAT. Can't do much, but I'll do what I can to support them. If I stay home a little more, & turn my thermostat down a little, I won't use as much gas, & it'll help my OWN finances (such as they are). Meanwhile, I'll keep reminding the powers-that-be that there are a lot of us struggling & trying to keep from falling through the cracks. I REALLY do understand what you're saying, friend. Thanks for your comment.
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@ebb.D Hi! Well said, & so true! Reminds me of the old saying, "United we stand, divided we fall.". By standing together with Ukraine, we tell Russia loud & clear that we're not going to tolerate its aggression. However, Pres. Putin only understands force, & force is the only way he's going to be deterred. We're not stupid - we know what's required. Our leaders just have to listen to us, & make the right decision. This "mass murder" has got to stop - SOON. Thanks for your comment.
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@djslybacon Hi! Yes, friend, I know the specter of WW3 is staring us in the face. But I don't think standing by & watching an entire population being exterminated is a good idea, either. Pres. Putin's been flapping his nuclear flag ever since this invasion began. He's attempting to cow Ukraine's allies into backing away so that he can do as he pleases. Now, we learn he's setting his sights on Moldova, which was his obvious next choice. It's been clear from the start that he's not going to stop with Ukraine. If he's not stopped now, he's just going to keep gobbling up 1 country after the other. He thinks Ukraine's allies are weak, & he only understands force. Unfortunately, that's the only way to stop him, short of assassination. Thanks for your comment.
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@ЯнаР-ш1ф Hi! I'm sorry that you've been so misinformed. The people trapped underground in Azovstal DO consist of fit & wounded Azov Battalion soldiers, as well as fit & wounded Ukrainian Marines, & about 1000 Ukrainian civilians, both fit & sick & wounded. The Ukrainian soldiers, up to this point, could easily have slipped through Russian lines in 1's & 2's, & escaped. They are NOT being held & forced to fight. Rather, they've CHOSEN to stay & fight, rather than surrender & be slowly tortured to death by Russian forces. RUSSIA invaded Ukraine, forcing this hideous war on the entire population, in what Russia calls a "de-Nazification". Apparently, they think every man, woman, & child in Ukraine is a Nazi, because Russian troops are slaughtering EVERYBODY. This is not a justifiable war - this is the methodical extermination of an entire people. Thanks for your comment.
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@ЯнаР-ш1ф Hi! Point of reference - Kyiv was officially founded in 482 CE, Moscow in 1147 CE. Historically, the region around the Black Sea was settled long before most of northern Europe. Archeological evidence points to permanent human habitation in Ukraine dating back to 25,000 BCE. The Ukrainians have the older claim than the Muscovites. Under Soviet control, Ukraine was simply an arbitrarily designated area of Russia, with populations being moved about as the Kremlin saw fit. There was no concern about whether the people liked it or not. If we're going to assign blame for factions in Ukraine not liking each other, we can trace it right back to Communism. It's not the PEOPLES' fault they were forced together like oil & vinegar. Oh, & Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks Russian. He also speaks English, as well as other languages, & he's a Jew, born in Ukraine. So, by language & heritage, is he Ukrainian, Russian, British, or Jewish? This attitude is no more than the Kremlin attempting to pound square pegs into round holes, forcing people to be who & what IT decides.they should. Thanks for your reply.
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@NotUnymous Hi! Friend, I don't mean to imply that EVERYONE is too self-centered & small-minded to be able to see "the big picture". Those who are, however, just seem to COMPLAIN the loudest. Germany & Italy, being the European nations most dependent on Russian energy, are doing the best they can under the circumstances. Seeking other sources of oil & gas in the short term, & working toward "green" energy for the future - these are really their only options at this point. There's a difference between "cutting back", & "cutting off". The world is being forced to do some serious "soul-searching" by this war, & we're finally having to realize the "status quo" is not sustainable, in many areas. Food & energy security, national security, & dependence on entities that are not really dependable are just a few. No matter what happens, the world ain't gonna be the same again. But now's our chance to make it BETTER, & stopping Russia's vicious imperialism is a good place to start. Thanks for your comment.
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@ЯнаР-ш1ф Hi! According to The Russian Primary Chronicle, Encyclopedia Britannica, & Wikipedia, Kyiv was founded by 3 brothers & their sister, Kyi, Shchek, Khoryv, & Lybid, rulers of the Polyanian tribe of Eastern Slavs, in about the 5th century CE. In 882 CE, Oleg, the Slavic-Viking ruler of Novgorod, conquered Kyiv & made it his capital. He established the Kyivan-Rus, which is the 1st time "Rus" enters the narrative. The citizens of Crimea & the Donbas region certainly have the right to decide their own future. However, the Kremlin is not known for its affinity for democratic processes. It'll rig an "election" in a heartbeat, if that will further its divisive agenda. And democratic election or no, that's still no justification for murdering women, children, & senior citizens. The babies can't vote, & their little hands are not firing guns. Thanks for your reply.
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@ЯнаР-ш1ф Hi! Again, 1 of the sources is The Russian Primary Chronicle. As a TRUE student of history, 1 should never rely on just 1 source. "Rus" means "red", & refers to the color of the Vikings' hair. Oleg was a Slavic-Viking, so it stands to reason his subsequent governmental period would be referred to as "Kyivan Rus", to differentiate it from the purely Slavic era. Thanks for your reply.
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@ЯнаР-ш1ф Hi! One is ALWAYS a "student" of history, because NO ONE ever knows EVERYTHING. To stop learning is to stop living. Thanks for your reply.
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@TomM60 Sir, let this grateful American thank you for your service. My father served in Europe in WW2, & my step-son served in Afghanistan. Both came home alive, thank God. Their courage & yours, & hundreds of thousands like you, is what let's us sleep in peace at night. Glad you called it like it is - Communism. NOBODY is saying it out loud, but those of us who experienced the Cold War know what it looks like. And here it is again. I take some comfort in knowing it failed the 1st time, & it will fail now, as well. Thanks for your reply.
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@kayem3824 Hi! Russia has invaded Ukraine - Ukraine has not invaded Russia. Joining NATO is a goal set forth in Ukraine's constitution, & abandoning that goal must be put to a referendum of the Ukrainian citizens. NATO is a defensive alliance, & if Pres. Putin refrained from aggressive actions against his neighbors, NATO should not concern him in the least. Crimea was a part of Ukraine, not Russia. RUSSIA attacked Crimea, not Pres. Zelenskyy. The only "law" up for debate in Ukraine was the issue of the Russian language. Ukraine never passed a law authorizing war against its own region. Thanks for your reply.
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@mirjanamitrovic9096 Hi! I've been around for a good portion of NATO's existence, witnessing the alliance in action 1st hand. I don't need Wikipedia or any other information outlet to tell me how it works. Thanks for your reply.
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@mirjanamitrovic9096 Hi! The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was founded in 1949, as a natural outgrowth of North Atlantic nations who allied against Nazi Germany in WW2. Its goal is mutual defense against any aggression of that type which threatens the peace & security of its member states. Its tenet of mutual defense is ironclad, & states that "aggression against 1 is aggression against all". This is clear, & not open to debate. If someone attacks a NATO member, they know full well what to expect. NATO does not START wars, but it's perfectly capable of ENDING them. The fields of Ukraine WILL be plowed, & they'll be plowed by free & sovereign Ukrainians, not vassal slaves to a new pseudo-Soviet Union. Thanks for your reply.
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@mirjanamitrovic9096 Hi! Friend, what I find most intriguing is Turkey closing the Bosporus Strait to military traffic. As a NATO member supplying arms to Ukraine, while at the same time maintaining cordial relations with Moscow, Pres. Erdogan is working the diplomatic angle to perfection. Closing the Strait sends the message that NO ONE may use Turkish territory to their advantage in the war. This is absolutely the right move on Erdogan's part. Thanks for your reply.
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@mirjanamitrovic9096 Hi! I'm sorry, I overlooked your previous post about Israel-Palestine. With Turkey-Syria, this really is a complex situation. Russian-backed Pres. al-Assad is a TRUE "loose cannon", & a criminally vicious one. He seems to feel confident that, with Russian support, he's free to provoke Turkey. And with the unfortunate Kurds in the mix, seemingly everyone's convenient "whipping boy", the situation is just simply violent chaos. It's going to be interesting to see how al-Assad fares with Russia so tangled up in Ukraine. If there was ever 1 who needs to "disappear", it's Pres. al-Assad. NATO's never intervened in Israel-Palestine because no one's asked it to. Ukraine asked for NATO's aid; but Israel & Palestine, unfortunately, seem willing to continue their age-old animosity on their own. The terrible clashes during this Ramadan/Passover just passed, indicate how desperately these people need to "bank the fire", & reach some sort of accord. And Iran just wants to bomb EVERYBODY. Crazy thing is, the USA & Russia are working TOGETHER to try to prevent Iran from going nuclear. Go figure! Thanks for your reply. Again, I'm sorry I overlooked your 1 post.
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@mirjanamitrovic9096 Hi! Indeed, Palestine asked for & received aid from Egypt in 2014. As I'm sure you're aware, Russia did the same thing to Syria that it's doing to Ukraine, invading Syria so as to entrench Pres. al-Assad in power. Hence, the comparison of Mariupol to Aleppo. Syria & Turkey's current aggression can best be attributed to both countries' provocations, with Syria attacking Turkey's borders, & Turkey flexing its muscles in Syria's direction. This situation certainly has every opportunity to escalate, & Syria's citizens, again, would be the ones with the most to lose. They've been traumatized enough. NATO's fairly recent interventions have included interdicting African pirates, patrolling the Mediterranean Sea after Sept. 11, 2001 for terrorist activity, supporting & training the Iraqi military 2004-2011, assisting Libya to resist an influx of terrorists after the Gadhafi regime was toppled, & working in Sudan to establish the African Union Mission, which was subsequently turned over to the United Nations & the African Union. Most NATO activities last only a few years at most, & are usually of a transitional, stabilizing nature. "Clean-up & recovery", 1 could say. Am I Ukrainian? We're all inhabitants of the same little mud ball hurtling through space - does it matter? Thanks for your open-mindedness, & your reply.
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@mirjanamitrovic9096 Hi! I have no 1st-hand, in-country experience with Pres. Zelenskyy's presidential campaign. What I do know is he ran on a platform of governmental anti-corruption, ending the conflict in the Donbas, & developing Ukraine's economy & attracting international business to the country. His opponent in the election, former Pres. Poroshenko, opposed Zelenskyy on the grounds that Poroshenko did not believe Zelenskyy could stand up to Pres. Putin. Shortly after Zelenskyy's term began, former USA Pres. Trump asked Zelenskyy to "dig up some dirt" on Trump's presidential opponent, Pres.Biden,. Zelenskyy refused, & Trump subsequently lost to Biden. With regard to Kosovo, there are differences & similarities with Ukraine. There was a 3-way conflict between internal Yugoslavian factions. An "ethnic cleansing", or genocide, was taking place. NATO intervened, bombing Yugoslavia to end hostilities. This is still a controversial action on NATO's part, as it resulted in a good deal of death & destruction in the country. On the other hand, NATO's interdiction of African pirates, & its grooming of Sudan for entry into the African Union, supported by the UN, can be considered bright spots for the organization. The UN is a cumbersome body, simply because of its 200+ member states. It is most useful in humanitarian & social crises, as its ability to respond militarily is usually very slow, with 200 ambassadors trying to agree on what should be done. That's why, most often, UN peacekeeping military forces will be deployed, to maintain ceasefires & truces. When Pres. Putin tries to justify his invasion of Ukraine by citing Kosovo's example, he's doubtlessly referring to NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia to end the 3-way civil war. He's likening it to his forces invading Ukraine to stop the internal conflict in the Donbas. However, his action is having the same effect as NATO's - it's destroying Ukraine. And the DIFFERENCE is, that after the war stopped in Yugoslavia, NATO left, having no desire to govern the now-separate states. PUTIN intends to STAY in Ukraine, break it into small pieces, & place a puppet regime in power. Using a tragic situation in 1 country to justify creating ANOTHER 1 in another country is a bad political move all around. We're supposed to LEARN from our mistakes, so we don't make the same ones AGAIN. Thanks so much for your reply.
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@ЯнаР-ш1ф Hi! Friend, you DO realize this video IS "western propaganda"? Thanks for your comment.
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