White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed the U.S. gave Ukraine its best weapons “for nothing.”
But had Washington consulted Kyiv during Iran operations, it could have gained crucial know-how on fighting Iran’s Shahed drones.
They didn’t choose the war, but they chose to defend Ukraine. Thank you to every servicewoman!
Ukraine and other countries facing similar pressures must adapt by deepening cooperation and collective strategy.
The question now is not whether the system will change, but who will shape its future.
The future is being shaped today
During the first two years of Donald Trump’s second term, the battle for a rules-based international order has been temporarily lost. Major powers are disincentivized from relying on rules, and ignoring this reality only increases the risks.
Middle powers must act together
At Davos, Canadian PM Mark Carney urged middle powers to recognize shifts in the global order. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed him, warning that no European country can guarantee its security alone.
There is a natural tension in the policies that limit Ukraine’s capacity to defend itself while accepting aggressive actions elsewhere. Extreme state violence is no longer treated as a last resort, but as an acceptable, preemptive instrument of policy.
Violence is being normalized if it “works”
The global response to recent crises — from Ukraine to Venezuela to Iran — reveals a dangerous pattern. If the use of force produces results, it is increasingly tolerated.
What this means
For Europe, and especially Ukraine, one conclusion is clear: 2026 is showing that the world has entered a new phase of global politics in which the rules-based international order can no longer be taken for granted.
The problem
While Ukrainians and Iranians rightly celebrates the death of a leader who caused them great harm, the UNHR questioned the legality of the strikes and condemned both the attacks on Iranian schools and Iran’s retaliation against civilians and infrastructure.
The reaction
Iranians took to the streets to celebrate the death of Iran's repressive leader. The strikes came after Khamenei had cracked down on Iranian protesters in recent months, carrying out massacres that reportedly took the lives of more than 30,000 Iranian civilians.
What happened
On February 28, the U.S. and Israel carried out mass strikes across Iran. Within hours, Ali Khamenei was confirmed dead along with dozens of leaders in his authoritarian regime.
While the fall of Ali Khamenei is celebrated by many Iranians and Ukrainians who suffered under his rule, the US strike is another escalation against the rules-based international order.
Europe must heed the warnings of Mark Carney and Volodymyr Zelenskyy and stand united. 🧵
You can buy the English edition of the book here: store.ukrainer.net/en/product/e...
Congratulations to Myroslav Laiuk on this wonderful achievement! Ukrainian voices deserve to be heard not only in Ukraine, but far beyond its borders.
We are very proud to have you as our founder. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor!
On February 24, marking four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion, the President of Ukraine honored our founder, @logvynenko.bsky.social, and other professionals for strengthening Ukrainian statehood and defending the nation’s sovereignty, integrity, and people with courage and dedication.
Ivan says this not only about Yellow Ribbon, but about everyone living under occupation, waiting for their land to once again fly Ukrainian flags.
💬 “The fact that the world continues to support Ukraine and recognizes that the occupied territories are ours — we see our contribution in that too. It cannot be compared to the contribution of Ukraine’s Defense Forces, but we try to do everything we can from our side.”
Security comes first, so Ivan won’t reveal the next steps, but efforts are moving online.
They also aim to obstruct the forced mobilization of Ukrainians into Russia’s war and push for global recognition that September’s Russian State Duma “elections” are illegitimate.
💬 “I dream that people in the occupied territories log in, use a promo code, and get access to Netflix, YouTube, and other services for free. That they can find jobs in creative industries, and study online. Approaching reintegration from this side — that’s the best way.”
The platform emphasizes digital security, offering secure browsers and VPNs. It includes a Ukrainian language course and promo codes for free preschool and school-level education.
Ivan says life in the occupied territories feels like a cage. That’s why the platform must grow.
Another mission of Yellow Ribbon is to help people in the occupation feel that they are still part of Ukraine.
Their platform, Ty v Ukraini (You Are in Ukraine), offers guidance on bypassing restrictions and staying connected with the rest of the country.
One of Yellow Ribbon’s key areas of work is documenting Russian crimes.
💬 “We’ve recorded cases where Russians who should be under sanctions traveled freely to Europe, bought Starlinks and drones, and brought them back to Russia.”
💬 “Russians are expanding not only their networks of informants and patrol groups in cities, but also high-resolution surveillance cameras. In Melitopol, Sevastopol, Simferopol — cities with heavy concentrations of Russian military — they are installing them everywhere.”
Every such photo is a huge risk. They are always published on social media with a significant delay. According to Ivan, these visible actions will become less frequent.
💬 “Any pro-Ukrainian sentiment, even a tiny ribbon, even a small Ukrainian flag hanging somewhere in a forest in Simferopol, is perceived very badly by the Russians. They are afraid of pro-Ukrainian views. Very afraid.”
The nonviolent resistance movement began in April 2022 with an open rally in occupied Kherson, where residents tied yellow ribbons across the city in defiance of Russian occupation. Today, as Russian control tightens, resistance has gone underground and adapted.
Twelve years ago in Simferopol, Crimea, thousands rallied for Ukraine’s unity against occupation.
On this meaningful day, we share an interview with Ivan from Yellow Ribbon, a nonviolent resistance movement in Ukraine’s occupied territories. 🧵
The footage in this video comes from Ukraїner’s documentary “The Untold History of Crimean Tatars”. Watch it fully here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU3F...
On February 26, we mark the Day of Resistance to the occupation of Crimea.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, repression on the peninsula — which began years earlier — has only intensified.
There will be no lasting peace in Ukraine without a free Crimea.
