“
The monologue, in which the position on the war did not sound, she completed the fact that she was glad to “relax in Berlin from all those events.” But there is a nuance: I came not to rest.
Foreigners, having heard about Lugansk, Kobzar and similar languages, in many cases will draw conclusions about brotherly peoples that should be forgotten.
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How to explain to them that this is not the case and that concessions do not work?
Not everyone knows our history and it must be taken If you simplify, “return alive” I talk to foreigners about the war. The team and I are developing the options that they could support the Ukrainian army. We explain why it is important and add the Ukrainian context. Even those foreigners who come here know very little. What to say about those who have never been in Ukraine.
I remind myself every time – Not everyone knows our history and it’s okay. Do you know a lot about the arts? To whom does he belong – Azerbaijan or Armenia? What about the Holodomor in Ireland? Conditional French or Italians can know about the Holodomor, but not know about the execution of the Renaissance. And they should not. But we must.
We do not have lectures. Timothy Snyder does this better (by the way, he also supports the activities of the Foundation “return alive”). Our task is to show that we know what we fight for, that our struggle has a deep meaning, and that they can also stand on the side of good. But for this we must know our story so that at the right moment we get the right fact and show that Russian narratives are false and harmful.
How to explain why many Ukrainians speak Russian We often say that Ukrainian history and Ukrainian present are extremely difficult. But that’s not. The stories of all countries are not easy. For example, our big problem is the prevalence of Russian among Ukrainians. Since 2022, many people have left Ukraine, most from the eastern regions, and often Russian -speaking. It is very amazing foreigners, they say, why do we speak this language? The Russians will talk about brotherly peoples here. But the real reason is that in Ukraine it was dangerous to speak Ukrainian for centuries.
Foreigners are not aware of the Valuev circular in 1863. Imagine what world you open for the average Norwegian, which learns that the Russian Empire forbidden the Ukrainian language 150 years ago. Ask a foreigner to imagine how beautiful the Ukrainian theater would be if Russia had not killed Les Kurbas and a thousand other elite representatives under Sandarmokh.
Now you do not give an assessment of the Russians, instead your interlocutor draws conclusions. To do this, you do not spend the strength on disputes – you just have to breathe, exhale, get patience and voice several facts.
Personal stories weigh Personal stories are also working here for me. My cousin was sent to Siberia at one time. In his youth, he defended his right to talk and create Ukrainian. In such people, the Soviet authorities saw criminals, so he sent him half a world from home – for hard physical work.
His future wife was sent to Siberia for the same reasons and to the same conditions. Actually, their children were born in Russia. Over time, the family moved to Omsk – closer to the Ukrainian border, so that letters go home at least a little faster. When Ukraine resumed independence, the couple had no strength and health to move and start life again.
We still have letters that my grandfather received from his uncle. The great -grandfather wrote that it feels bad when it is filed for a Russian pension. Although it is the money he made honest and hard work, the idea that it was the money of the country that tried to destroy him, poison his heart.
Most Ukrainians’ family stories show that Russia’s current attempt to destroy us is just another round of history. And that it does not do a purely elite. None of the dead did not shoot Putin personally. And my great -grandfather was not sent to Siberia.
But not all the Russians did it. And this is a thesis that can be heard in conversations with foreigners.
Not all Russians are the same but all of them are responsible In Ukraine, we often say that it makes no sense to seek resistance among Russians. We know it because we tried. In the first days of a full -scale war, almost all of us wrote to our friends or relatives from Russia, public people recorded appeals calling for protests, hoping that the Russians would rebel. And they were disappointed. However, the foreigners did not feel it as acute as we are, so they often continue to hold on to the thesis that the Russians are hostages.
How to react to it? To agree. First, it is-not all Russians are the same as not all Ukrainians are the same, not all Poles, Finns, etc. In Russia, there are exactly people who do not want war and feel ashamed of what is happening. The question is that they are in the minority.
Second, If we immediately say the interlocutor “no” in response to his belief, a wall quickly grows between us. Instead, we need to bow foreigners to our side.
In March 2022 in Berlin I met with Italian, which I knew only a few days. She came to the office in a stylish skirt and in socks with the inscription “USSR”. I said in a friendly man, I noticed her socks and asked if she knew what this inscription means. At that moment, she understood everything. She said she received these socks as a prize at a student competition, and this morning she dressed them because they just came under the image. It was evident that she was ashamed and uncomfortable. Because, it turns out, even socks should be worn consciously. By the way, she threw out those socks.
What is I? Many foreigners know the conditional Ivan from Novosibirsk, with whom they build a startup in a silicone valley. They like Ivan and they conclude that all Russians are normal. And so they are genuinely surprised when I say that they are all.
Then we have to explain that we all have limited time. And we have a choice: to look for 133 million Russians of conscious people or to put time and effort into work with motivated Ukrainians and foreigners working in favor of Ukraine. In the conditions where my life and my relatives depends on it, I choose the second. In 50 years, I hope we can talk about it. But now opposition Russians have to counteract themselves. As Ukrainians we have other priorities. For example, survive.
Obviously, the Russians are scared to protest, because it threatens their lives. But how to measure anyone more frightening-they are protesting in their own country or I live in Kiev, knowing that at any time my home can be distributed by Shahaned? Neither Europeans nor Americans, nor anyone else can answer.
It all depends on all of us Depending on the context and specifics of the interlocutor I try choose only one opinion and convey it. If we talk about everything hard Powls, you can not achieve the result.
This is one of the basic sales rules. Very few people are able to focus on several thoughts at the same time. If a stranger is in front of you, try to convey the main thing, interest. And if it turns out, she will start to dive deeper.
Many of my acquaintances are often upset when talking to a conditional British or German does not end with the recognition that Ukraine needs 100% support. After such conversations, it seems that it makes no sense to speak. But is it really true?
Some of the foreigners will need to hear the same thing three or five times before they finally understand. Sometimes, after talking with you, foreigners will stand on our side. But maybe otherwise – you will start this path and others will pick up. Russian propaganda works: if you say a thousand times that there is no war, then even the daughter of those Ukrainian dissidents, my cousins and great -grandparents will believe in it. So, in fact, it happened.
Even before working in “Come back alive”, I wrote in my Facebook that anyone who is abroad or communicates with foreigners is a small Foreign Ministry. I still believe it.
We all play long.
How not to go on emotions Emotions are normal. Anger and anger are normal. Joy is normal. Emotions only signal that our borders have broken. And when my borders are breaking, I tell myself “Oki, we need to help Patrick discover new facts.” If you turn this into a game, there is an excitement and a desire to manage foreigners, to take a major role in the discussion.
On the other hand, Not all discussions are worth your time. If a person has so adamant due to the propaganda that it is impossible to convince him, it is noticeably immediately. If this is not your professional activity and the conversation is devastating you, it is better to complete it. Your time is an investment – put it in those who are ready to hear you.
It is not necessary to expect that foreigners will understand us as other Ukrainians. Such a difficult experience we gain will forever remain far from those who do not have it. And this is good, because we are fighting for Russian evil not to spread further. We do not need sympathy, we need specific support – to reach, position and readiness to voice it to others.
It is important not so much to be calm as remain at approximately the same emotional level as the interlocutor. It is not necessary to slip into the complete negative and try to cause pity – first of all we are those who give rise, not the victim. It is this position that helps our fund and our partners attract the biggest days and support. Hold on to it.
Kateryna Leshchyshyn
A column is a material that reflects the author’s point of view. The text of the column does not claim the objectivity and comprehensive coverage of the topic that rises in it. The editorial board of “Ukrainian Truth” is not responsible for the accuracy and interpretation of the information provided and plays only the role of the carrier. The point of view of the UP editorial board may not coincide with the point of view of the author of the column.
”, – WRITE: www.pravda.com.ua
The monologue, in which the position on the war did not sound, she completed the fact that she was glad to “relax in Berlin from all those events.” But there is a nuance: I came not to rest.
Foreigners, having heard about Lugansk, Kobzar and similar languages, in many cases will draw conclusions about brotherly peoples that should be forgotten.
Advertising:
How to explain to them that this is not the case and that concessions do not work?
Not everyone knows our history and it must be taken If you simplify, “return alive” I talk to foreigners about the war. The team and I are developing the options that they could support the Ukrainian army. We explain why it is important and add the Ukrainian context. Even those foreigners who come here know very little. What to say about those who have never been in Ukraine.
I remind myself every time – Not everyone knows our history and it’s okay. Do you know a lot about the arts? To whom does he belong – Azerbaijan or Armenia? What about the Holodomor in Ireland? Conditional French or Italians can know about the Holodomor, but not know about the execution of the Renaissance. And they should not. But we must.
We do not have lectures. Timothy Snyder does this better (by the way, he also supports the activities of the Foundation “return alive”). Our task is to show that we know what we fight for, that our struggle has a deep meaning, and that they can also stand on the side of good. But for this we must know our story so that at the right moment we get the right fact and show that Russian narratives are false and harmful.
How to explain why many Ukrainians speak Russian We often say that Ukrainian history and Ukrainian present are extremely difficult. But that’s not. The stories of all countries are not easy. For example, our big problem is the prevalence of Russian among Ukrainians. Since 2022, many people have left Ukraine, most from the eastern regions, and often Russian -speaking. It is very amazing foreigners, they say, why do we speak this language? The Russians will talk about brotherly peoples here. But the real reason is that in Ukraine it was dangerous to speak Ukrainian for centuries.
Foreigners are not aware of the Valuev circular in 1863. Imagine what world you open for the average Norwegian, which learns that the Russian Empire forbidden the Ukrainian language 150 years ago. Ask a foreigner to imagine how beautiful the Ukrainian theater would be if Russia had not killed Les Kurbas and a thousand other elite representatives under Sandarmokh.
Now you do not give an assessment of the Russians, instead your interlocutor draws conclusions. To do this, you do not spend the strength on disputes – you just have to breathe, exhale, get patience and voice several facts.
Personal stories weigh Personal stories are also working here for me. My cousin was sent to Siberia at one time. In his youth, he defended his right to talk and create Ukrainian. In such people, the Soviet authorities saw criminals, so he sent him half a world from home – for hard physical work.
His future wife was sent to Siberia for the same reasons and to the same conditions. Actually, their children were born in Russia. Over time, the family moved to Omsk – closer to the Ukrainian border, so that letters go home at least a little faster. When Ukraine resumed independence, the couple had no strength and health to move and start life again.
We still have letters that my grandfather received from his uncle. The great -grandfather wrote that it feels bad when it is filed for a Russian pension. Although it is the money he made honest and hard work, the idea that it was the money of the country that tried to destroy him, poison his heart.
Most Ukrainians’ family stories show that now Schna attempt to destroy us is just another round of history. And that it does not do a purely elite. None of the dead did not shoot Putin personally. And my great -grandfather was not sent to Siberia.
But not all the Russians did it. And this is a thesis that can be heard in conversations with foreigners.
Not all Russians are the same but all of them are responsible In Ukraine, we often say that it makes no sense to seek resistance among Russians. We know it because we tried. In the first days of a full -scale war, almost all of us wrote to our friends or relatives from Russia, public people recorded appeals calling for protests, hoping that the Russians would rebel. And they were disappointed. However, the foreigners did not feel it as acute as we are, so they often continue to hold on to the thesis that the Russians are hostages.
How to react to it? To agree. First, it is-not all Russians are the same as not all Ukrainians are the same, not all Poles, Finns, etc. In Russia, there are exactly people who do not want war and feel ashamed of what is happening. The question is that they are in the minority.
Second, If we immediately say the interlocutor “no” in response to his belief, a wall quickly grows between us. Instead, we need to bow foreigners to our side.
In March 2022 in Berlin I met with Italian, which I knew only a few days. She came to the office in a stylish skirt and in socks with the inscription “USSR”. I said in a friendly man, I noticed her socks and asked if she knew what this inscription means. At that moment, she understood everything. She said she received these socks as a prize at a student competition, and this morning she dressed them because they just came under the image. It was evident that she was ashamed and uncomfortable. Because, it turns out, even socks should be worn consciously. By the way, she threw out those socks.
What is I? Many foreigners know the conditional Ivan from Novosibirsk, with whom they build a startup in a silicone valley. They like Ivan and they conclude that all Russians are normal. And so they are genuinely surprised when I say that they are all.
Then we have to explain that we all have limited time. And we have a choice: to look for 133 million Russians of conscious people or to put time and effort into work with motivated Ukrainians and foreigners working in favor of Ukraine. In the conditions where my life and my relatives depends on it, I choose the second. In 50 years, I hope we can talk about it. But now opposition Russians have to counteract themselves. As Ukrainians we have other priorities. For example, survive.
Obviously, the Russians are scared to protest, because it threatens their lives. But how to measure anyone more frightening-they are protesting in their own country or I live in Kiev, knowing that at any time my home can be distributed by Shahaned? Neither Europeans nor Americans, nor anyone else can answer.
It all depends on all of us Depending on the context and specifics of the interlocutor I try choose only one opinion and convey it. If you talk about everything a little, you can not achieve the result.
This is one of the basic sales rules. Very few people are able to focus on several thoughts at the same time. If a stranger is in front of you, try to convey the main thing, interest. And if it turns out, she will start to dive deeper.
Many of my acquaintances are often upset when talking to a conditional British or German does not end with the recognition that Ukraine needs 100% support. After such conversations, it seems that it makes no sense to speak. But is it really true?
Some of the foreigners will need to hear the same thing three or five times before they finally understand. Sometimes, after talking with you, foreigners will stand on our side. But maybe otherwise – you will start this path and others will pick up. Russian propaganda works: if you say a thousand times that there is no war, then even the daughter of those Ukrainian dissidents, my cousins and great -grandparents will believe in it. So, in fact, it happened.
Even before working in “Come back alive”, I wrote in my Facebook that anyone who is abroad or communicates with foreigners is a small Foreign Ministry. I still believe it.
We all play long.
How not to go on emotions Emotions are normal. Anger and anger are normal. Joy is normal. Emotions only signal that our borders have broken. And when my borders are breaking, I tell myself “Oki, we need to help Patrick discover new facts.” If you turn this into a game, there is an excitement and a desire to manage foreigners, to take a major role in the discussion.
On the other hand, Not all discussions are worth your time. If a person has so adamant due to the propaganda that it is impossible to convince him, it is noticeably immediately. If this is not your professional activity and the conversation is devastating you, it is better to complete it. Your time is an investment – put it in those who are ready to hear you.
It is not necessary to expect that foreigners will understand us as other Ukrainians. Such a difficult experience we gain will forever remain far from those who do not have it. And this is good, because we are fighting for Russian evil not to spread further. We do not need sympathy, we need specific support – to reach, position and readiness to voice it to others.
It is important not so much to be calm as remain at approximately the same emotional level as the interlocutor. It is not necessary to slip into the complete negative and try to cause pity – first of all we are those who give rise, not the victim. It is this position that helps our fund and our partners attract the biggest days and support. Hold on to it.
Kateryna Leshchyshyn
A column is a material that reflects the author’s point of view. The text of the column does not claim the objectivity and comprehensive coverage of the topic that rises in it. The editorial board of “Ukrainian Truth” is not responsible for the accuracy and interpretation of the information provided and plays only the role of the carrier. The point of view of the UP editorial board may not coincide with the point of view of the author of the column.