Following another week of intensive and lethal Russian bombardment of Ukraine's cities, a composite image has been doing the rounds on Ukrainian social media.
Underneath an old, black-and-white photo of Londoners queuing at a fruit and vegetable stall surrounded by the bombed-out rubble of the Blitz, a second image - this time in colour - creates a striking juxtaposition.
Taken on Saturday, it shows shoppers thronging to similar stalls in a northern suburb of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, while a column of black smoke rises ominously in the background. Bombs can't stop markets, reads the caption linking the two images.
The night before, as the city's sleep was interrupted once again by the now all-too-familiar booms of missile and drone strikes, two people were killed and nine others injured.
The implication is clear. Rather than destroying public morale, Russia's dramatic ramping up of attacks on Ukrainian cities is conjuring a spirit of resilience reminiscent of 1940s Britain.
However, beneath this show of strength lies a foundation of fear. One market vendor, Halyna, selling dried prunes and mushrooms, expressed a grim perspective, stating, In my opinion, according to the scriptures of the saints, this war hasn't even started yet. It will get worse, way worse. Similarly, shoppers relate experiences of trembling homes during the blasts.
The Western narrative now wrestles not only with how to endure the ongoing war but with the crucial question of how to stop it — a debate that has taken center stage with President Trump’s emergence as a potential peacemaker.
Trump's approach and the allusion to 'appeasement' echo historical fears from the 1930s. As he and President Zelensky navigate their complex relationship, Democrats and European leaders alike criticize strategies that risk emboldening Russia. The broader concerns call attention to the resolution of conflict versus the danger of negotiating with aggressors who have shown no inclination to halt their territorial ambitions.
With the war entering a new and brutal phase, the discussion of whether Ukraine should engage in negotiations or not remains as pertinent as ever. Many Ukrainian citizens reflect a strong belief that concessions could embolden Russia, corroborating that true resolution necessitates stifling aggression rather than appeasement.
Despite the dark shadows of war looming, stories from Kyiv’s markets reflect not just resilience but a stark recognition of the long struggle ahead, requiring unity and a commitment to combating the ferocity of aggression.
