LIKE ANY UKRAINIAN

Like any Ukrainian, I know one thing: in a harsh, uncertain situation—plant potatoes.

For the first time, I’m planting them in grow bags. I mixed the soil myself: 40% soil, 40% compost, 10% peat moss, and 10% perlite.

I should have used coco coir instead of peat moss, but it wasn’t available at the store nearby. Next time, I’ll plan ahead.

Right now, I feel ashamed of everything: of some people here, of some things I see online - even among Ukrainians - petty arguments about who thanked whom instead of focusing on what truly matters.

So much has already been said about that “Friday Oval Office show” that I didn’t want to jump into the stream of opinions. But I watched it live (I was at work), and at certain moments I just covered my face with my hands out of fear.

I’m scared.

I’m scared because I KNOW how this can end. I’ve already been in the epicenter of the beginning of war twice. Both times because of the same aggressor.

I’ve seen how people refused to believe what was happening, how they ignored warnings, how they justified everything, and even cheered for leaders who were playing along with growing evil.

Russia today is evil. Period. It cannot be trusted in negotiations. And those who complicate this with talk of “potential benefits” and “future cooperation” don’t understand: there will be NO benefits and NO projects. And if not you, then your children will one day be forced to take weapons out of hiding to defend their home, paying the price for such “partnerships.”

I thought we had moved far enough away from it all, crossing an ocean with Margo, but it has followed us here too.

So plant potatoes. They will grow, and they will feed you in any circumstances.

Yours, Nata Che