Liudmyla Bortok: Every year we pray for the war to end, and for Russia to leave us alone

Ukrainian refugee Liudmyla Bortok developed a love for the USA when she won a scholarship to study there so she can't believe a feeling of betrayal at Donald Trump's actions over the last week. File picture: Chani Anderson

Pinch me. Tell me you are in Ireland without telling me you are in Ireland. Here is how it is for me. 

Lashing rain, I’m walking the street with a cup of tea — Barry’s with milk of course — I can’t have it any other way for the last three years now. 

It is around zero degrees, pouring rain — again, but young lads on other side of the road are walking in their shorts looking happy and relaxed.

I sip on my Barry’s tea while a lady passing by is asking me, how am I doing?

To be honest, when I first arrived to Ireland, I used to reply in detail to this question, until another greeting came along — ‘what’s the craic?’. 

I had no idea why people are constantly asking me about drugs.

But, let’s go back to the rainy street. So, there are few gentlemen walking a bit ahead of me and they are slowing down in front of a window with a TV. 

Six Nations is on and Ireland is playing. A few seconds more and the whole street is cheering as the Irish team scores. 

‘That’s the spirit,’ I’m saying to myself. I join in as I’m convinced that the Irish rugby team is the best in the world.

But let’s go back a little, to the ’90s. I’ve just graduated high school in Ukraine and I won a US scholarship to the States as an exchange student.

I lived and studied there for a year. I owe America my English. Their music, movies, and the free spirit of the ’90s never left me since. 

I’m still saying “gas station”, “candies”, and “trunk” and Irish people are far too polite to correct me.

America was always a part of me and was always my friend. 

It was with me even in the darkest days of my life, when Russians invaded Ukraine, took away my family house, and killed my friends and colleagues. 

USA was always a friend to my people. What did we do to be betrayed now?

Donald Trump’s first presidential term started on the day my mother passed away, on January 20, 2017. 

She got seriously sick shortly after the first invasion and never recovered after losing the family home and all their belongings to Russians.

I remember we watched the news in Kyiv’s hospital with her, a few days before Trump’s first inauguration. 

We saw the Kremlin officials raising their glasses celebrating Trump’s victory. I could not believe my eyes back then, and I can’t accept the reality now.

After my country was destroyed by the Russian dictator, after the Kremlin killed thousands of my countrymen, Ukrainians are the ones to blame? Ukraine started the war? Pinch me.

Trump is now repeating all of the Kremlin’s narratives, like they are drafted by the same person in Moscow. 

This echo goes back and forth from Moscow to Washington flying over the ears of European leaders, and no one stands up to it.

The Kremlin’s media are raising their glasses again and Ukraine is about to be given away to Moscow like a present to a dear friend.

What were all these years of relentless fighting for? Why did thousands of Ukrainians sacrifice their lives defending security and peace in Europe? Why did a friend become a foe?

Trump is just like Putin

Just like Putin, Trump surrounded himself with oligarchs, now America’s elite, just like Russia’s — actors, singers, opinion leaders — are leaving the country.

Just like Putin, Trump is using the media for brainwashing and just like Putin wants to see the end of Ukraine.

Today’s USA destroyed my belief in good, and the America, that was a part of me. 

It looks like Ukraine was stabbed by its best friend and it feels even worse than Russian bombs.

It’s been already three years since Ukrainians started marching on Irish streets marking the day of the invasion, February 24. 

Every year we pray for the war to end, and for Russia to leave us alone and to have a just peace.

This year it is going to be different though; it is the saddest moment since the war started, as the chances for my home country to be torn apart are very high. 

Poland and the Baltic states, most likely, will be next. Will humanity eventually wake up to stop the evil?

We learn, but not a lot. Remember, millions died before Europe and America united to stop Hitler. 

I hope that this time the price won’t be as high and I still keep my fingers crossed to see Ukraine remain on the map.

Through famine, humiliation, and unpredictable neighbours, the Irish people and Ukrainians have lots in common if we look back into the history. 

I do hope Ireland, that became a welcoming host for thousands of Ukrainians over these last three years, will finally have its time to grow and prosper. 

Long live Ireland. Long live Ukraine.