The idea of Greater Russia is firmly rooted in the muscovite population
We need to build an antifascist protective wall
This is the English version of my op-ed in Kristianstadsbladet and Norra Skåne which was published 21 November. It was also published, with a different title, in Folkbladet 23 November.
In one of the latest episodes of the "Good Morning Ukraine" podcast, journalists Alex Voronov and Kalle Kniivilä discussed the differences between Ukrainian and Russian popular music.
Source: Some clever guy on the Internet.
While the Ukrainians sing about peace and that they want the war to end, the russians sing of victory, power and the restoration of the russian Empire. The notions that russia must regain its place in the world are firmly rooted in all parts of the population. The Ukrainian-American economist Tatyana Deryugina recently reported, in her newsletter, answers from a number of russian academics to her questions about their views on the russian full-scale war against Ukraine.
She asked about who is responsible for the war and on what terms it should end. According to the respondents, the war is Ukraine's and the "West's" fault, russia has a right to Ukraine, President Zelenskyy should be hanged, those who help Ukraine defend itself should pay reparations, and Ukraine is not a real country.
russian opinion polls show that the imperialist notions of a Greater russia are firmly rooted in the russian population. russia's history is also an imperialist history. From having included the area around Moscow, the country grew after the fall of the Mongol Empire into today's russia. The expansion took place in the same way as today. Through wars of conquest where populations in other countries were tortured, murdered, raped and deported. More than twenty different ethnic groups have been exterminated in russian colonial wars. Their language and culture were considered unnecessary, which is why they were banned and exterminated in the same way as is happening on occupied Ukrainian land today.
If, because of Trump, a peace is imposed on Ukraine, it will only be short-lived. putin will declare himself victorious and prepare for new wars. So must we. We must build an antifascist protective wall to prevent russian missiles from destroying our children's hospitals and nursing homes. We must prevent russian soldiers from putting their boots on Swedish soil and raping women, men and children.