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ward their viewpoint. When Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych refused to sign an agreement to sign a political association and free trade agreement with the European Union and instead chose closer ties to Russia in 2014, a violent revolution arose, resulting in the deaths of 108 protestors, 13 politico officers, and the wounding of many others. This resulted in another new, more Western-minded government, which then had the other side making protests that their voices were not being heard. As a result, Russia felt that Ukraine was becoming more of a threat than an ally, and they began flexing their muscles not long after.

So, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February of 2022 did not come out of nowhere. There were serious pushbacks for some time from the eastern area of Ukraine due to the severe restrictions that minimized Russian cultural and spiritual presence in the country. I have been in this region of Ukraine as a business and educational trainer, and I found deep ties to a Russian heritage, best symbolized by the fact that the Russian language was used much more than the Ukrainian language. Throughout its long history, much longer than the United States has been in existence, this area has had deep roots in Russian heritage. This war has certainly been horrific, but to be honest, almost all of the coverage we see is from the Ukrainian side. What does not get much press in the West is that the breach in the Nova Khakova Dam and the explosions of the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 natural-gas pipelines point toward Ukraine more than Russia.

I am not proposing we switch sides and start supporting Russia by any means, but we should not be deifying the Ukrainian government as saints, either. There have been opportunities for compromise on both sides that were disregarded. There will be repercussions no matter how the final outcome of this conflict ends up, and it is very possible that our country will not be better for it. And the people who have had their lives and areas destroyed are certainly not going to be better off when the conflict ceases, regardless of who ultimately comes away with some kind of victory.

Even more disturbing for us in the USA are the allegations of an elaborate influence-peddling scheme by Hunter Biden from the Ukrainian gas giant Burisma to the tune of $5 million. There may be no connection, but there are other questions that need to be answered. Hopefully, the day will come when we learn why this particular conflict has resulted in such vast amounts of American dollars being spent, what it was used for, and whether it was all worth it.