Tag: russia

Now, Can’t Unsee

Sunday, February 08, 2026

My last post explained my decision to begin relearning Earth’s geography. Many of you got it and sent thoughtful feedback. I’m continuing now, because I’ve become convinced that once you begin seeing geography, it’s impossible to unsee.

A strong argument for revisiting geography—and for why it feels newly relevant—is that we’ve been trained to read politics primarily as performances: speeches, alliances, ideologies, moral declarations. Geography is quieter. It doesn’t argue. It simply sits there—unchanging—shaping critical spaces that national leaders fear, covet, and seek to control.

Today’s major conflicts become more legible once we’ve looked at maps.

Russia and Urkraine: Flat Lands—A “Needed Door”

Russia’s war against Ukraine is often explained through nationalism, nostalgia, or authoritarian ambition. Those factors matter—but geography offers a deeper, more durable explanation.

Historically, Russia’s western border has been dangerously exposed. Unlike nations protected by oceans or mountains, Russia faces a vast, flat European plain. Over centuries, invasions have rolled across it—like Napoleon’s France and Nazi Germany’s. These experiences revive Russia’s eternal strategic obsession with buffer zones. It has survived brutal invasions, but not because of diplomacy. Its survival has been caused by distance and weather factors.

Ukraine sits squarely in Russia’s vulnerable corridor.

Geographically, Ukraine offers Russia both exposure and opportunity. Its open terrain provides little natural defense, but control of Ukrainian land would extend Russia’s defensive depth westward—something Russian leaders have long considered essential. Added to this are Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, critical for trade, naval access, and energy routes.

Geography sharpens the picture. It helps explain why Vladimir Putin will not accept Ukraine as a sovereign nation free to choose its alliances. To him, a Western-aligned Ukraine represents an unlocked door—one that history warns must be closed.

Geography doesn’t excuse this brutal, seemingly endless war. But it helps explain why Russia’s leadership experiences winning it as urgent, even inevitable.

Israel—A Nation Without “Area Depth”

Israel faces different—and equally relentless—geographic pressures.

It is a very small country, narrow, and at some points only miles wide. Israel lacks strategic depth: little space to retreat, regroup, or absorb sustained attacks. Population centers, military bases, and infrastructure sit uncomfortably close to hostile borders.

The surrounding high terrain—such as the Golan Heights—provides long sightlines and early-warning advantages. Borders here are not abstract lines; they’re launching points, chokeholds, and buffers.

This geography shapes Israeli military behavior. Actions often framed as ideological or retaliatory also reflect spatial urgency. Israel calculates threats in minutes, not in miles. Deterrence isn’t merely political—it’s firmly geographic.

Israel’s military doctrine emphasizes speed, preemption, and overwhelming responsiveness. In Israel’s compressed landscape, waiting can feel like inviting catastrophe.

Explanations aren’t endorsements. Geographical assistance helps in comprehending why restraint, however morally desirable, is also geographically difficult.

Inevitabilities—Always Unsettling

History shows that strong, aggressive leaders often equate geography with destiny. Mountains, plains, ports, and borders become stories of vulnerability and control. Over time, these geographic narratives harden into strategic myths—and can be used to justify violence.

We, as observers, debate beliefs, identities, and movements. Leaders, after long arguments with maps, may decide to order wars.

Geography doesn’t make war acceptable—but it does make it intelligible. We hope for intelligence that allows nations to anticipate conflict before it explodes, rather than react afterward in disbelief.

“Old geography” still teaches us—not how the world ought to be, but how it still behaves.

Dear friends: more on this topic will appear here soon.

[For readers who prefer receiving these morning pieces by email, I’m also publishing them on Substack.]

— Diana

Zelenskyy

Sunday, March 02, 2025

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s rise from actor-comedian to wartime president has been an incredible journey that testifies to his extraordinary adaptability, resilience, and moral clarity. Few modern leaders have been tested as brutally as he has, and even fewer have risen “to the occasion” with equally unwavering resolve.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Many assumed the Kyiv Government would collapse under the weight of that major military aggression. But, Zelenskkyy didn’t. Standing firm and refusing opportunities to flee, he insisted, “I need ammunition, not a ride.”

Immediately, Zelenskyy transformed himself from a political newcomer into a global symbol of courage. He has proved daily that True Leadership isn’t only about experience. It’s also about conviction, integrity, and an unshakable sense of mission to one’s people.

Zelenskyy is more than brave: he has demonstrated exceptional intelligence and strategic acumen. Leading Ukraine’s war effort has revealed him capable of rallying international support, a requirement he clearly understands. He has shown the world that the battle in modern warfare is fought as much in the information sphere as on the battlefield.

When Zelenskyy addresses world leaders, from the U.S. Congress to the European Parliament, it’s like a masterclass in persuasion that strengthens alliances by invoking shared history and democratic ideals. He communicates not with bureaucratic platitudes but with raw emotion and clarity.

Those skills have proved him one of this era’s most effective wartime leaders. We have watched Zelenskyy skillfully navigate the complexities of global politics, secure military and economic aid, and (incredibly) maintain Ukraine’s sovereignty in the face of existential threats.

Last Friday, Zelensky visited the Oval Office and the President. While there, he demonstrated his deep understanding of the media’s influence. He employed precision and confidence to bait the President and the President’s ever-watchful team into revealing more than they intended and, equally, that group’s sheer brutality.

Negotiations to end the war in Ukraine are taking place; however, Zelenskyy hasn’t been allowed to participate in the discussions to end the war in his country. While seated in the Oval Office, Zelenskyy subtly and successfully nudged “key hidden negotiation and decision elements” into the public eye.

Diplomacy isn’t just about closed-door discussions—it’s about shaping the narrative. Zelenskyy’s shaping skills have made it impossible for the world to ignore Ukraine’s plight. He has leveraged the press as a tool and managed to keep the war and Ukraine in our global consciousness.

His communication skills and focus keep forcing nation leaders to reckon with the consequences of inaction. Last Friday’s televised event in the Oval Office emphasized clearly that Ukraine might not match Russia’s military strength, but Ukraine can outmaneuver opponents in the court of public opinion.

Zelenskyy is extra-deeply admirable because he never sought to be a wartime president, yet he embraced that role with an unwavering sense of responsibility. We’ve seen him staying in Kyiv through bombings and blackouts, walking the same streets as his citizens, showing the world that he’s not just the leader of Ukraine—he is “of Ukraine.”

He is a modern hero who represents more than defiance. He represents a hope that democracy and national identity can withstand even the most ruthless adversaries. Zelenskyy’s story is one of remarkable transformation—from an entertainer to a statesman, from an underdog to an historical figure.

Dear Friends: His legacy will endure long after the war has ended. Diana