According to a report by NBC News, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia’s new offensive in the northeast — which saw the Kremlin’s troops sweep across the border and capture miles of territory before being halted by Kyiv’s army — could be just the first of many this summer.
Yesterday (5/17/2024), President Zelenskyy stated during an interview with AFP News that Russia’s ongoing assault could involve several waves and that the Russian military might be planning to open new fronts while Kyiv waits for U.S. military aid and new conscripts to boost its depleted forces.
Zelenskyy renewed criticism of Western countries, saying they left Ukraine in a “nonsense situation” where Ukraine gets enough support to avoid total defeat, but not enough to achieve victory. [NOTE: This writer has been suggesting exactly this for the last year or longer.]
The NBC News report may be read HERE.
My brothers and sisters, as this writer stated in a December 29, 2023 FGGAM article, Ukraine is a sovereign country under the direct threat of extinction and suffers attacks against it military, infrastructure and the civilian population every day. Imagine if you (instead of them) went to bed every night wondering if this was the night that a missile would come crashing through your bedroom window?
How quickly we forget, or at least forget to appreciate, what the United States and its citizens suffered, spent and sacrificed for decades to end the Cold War – including the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the USSR. Then again, we seem to be living in an age where history isn’t guiding our decision making anymore, as so many also seem to have forgotten the plight of the Jews, God’s chosen people (see Deuteronomy 7:6), during the Holocaust of WWII – with antisemitism globally on the rise once again.
My brothers and sisters, the answer is JESUS – not politics, military might or the wisdom of the world (see 1 Corinthians 3:19)! The battle being fought is spiritual, so we need to understand that we fight first from a position of prayer (see Philippians 4:6 and Proverbs 3:5-6). Let’s not grow weary in doing the work of the Lord (see 2 Thessalonians 3:13) or place an inordinate amount of faith in politicians and civil governments.
Civil government is by its very nature a direct reflection of its citizens, and we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (see Romans 3:23). To the extent it is necessary, civil government is at its best when its leaders are god-fearing men and women who operate in the wisdom of God and have the mind of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:16)! We should do our best to elect political candidates, regardless of party affiliation, who best exemplify and support policies consistent with the word of God!
Pray! Pray for the end of Russian hostilities. Pray for God’s healing of the lands of Russia and Ukraine (see 2 Chronicles 7:14), and all of the nations of the world suffering directly or indirectly as a result of this evil. Pray for the healing of the men, women and children of Ukraine – and yes, for Russian families, as the untold losses of Russian soldiers in this war are reportedly huge, with parents having no say-so over what Russian President Vladimir Putin orders.
We should never forget that Russia is a full-on communist nation filled with persons loved deeply by God, but led by a ruthless and evil leader, President Putin – a former KGB military officer seemingly longing for the ‘glory days’ of the former Soviet Union.
Here are the above-referenced scriptures:
Deuteronomy 7:6 (NKJV)
“For you [the Jews] are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.”
1 Corinthians 3:19 (NLT)
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, ‘He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.’”
Philippians 4:6 (NKJV)
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God…”.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, [a]nd lean not on your own understanding; [i]n all your ways acknowledge Him, [a]nd He shall direct your paths.”
2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NKJV)
“But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.”
Romans 3:23 (NKJV)
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”.
1 Corinthians 2:16 (Amplified Bible)
“For who has known the mind and purposes of the Lord, so as to instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes].”
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
“…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Praise Jesus forevermore!
