Several leaders of the tristate area have strongly condemned the recent Russia attacks against Ukraine.
Philadelphia governor, Tom Wolf, called the democratic leaders of the globe to “respond decisively” to the offense. He used the same adjectives as U.S. President Joe Biden when referring to the Russian military action.
“I stand with @POTUS (Biden) in condemning the unprovoked and unjustified Russian military invasion of the independent country of Ukraine. This attack on a peaceful country is shocking. I urge democratic leaders across the globe to unite and respond decisively to this unlawful attack”, said on his Twitter account.
Darkest days since WWII
His New Jersey colleague, Phil Murphy, stated (also on Twitter) that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine marks one of the darkest days in Europe since World War Two. He gave his support to the Ukrainian Americans in Jersey and people in Ukraine.
“We stand with New Jersey’s Ukrainian American community and with President Biden in supporting the people of the independent nation of Ukraine”, the NJ governor said.
Similarly, Bob Menendez, an U.S. Senator for NJ and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, supported the Ukrainians.
Menendez focused on the economic sanctions for Russia. He said that, if they are up to maximize the costs of war to Vladimir Putin and his allies, there are more things that can and should be done.
“Congress and the Biden administration must not shy away from any options, includind sanctioning the Russian Central Bank, removing Russian banks from the SWIFT payment system, crippling Russia’s key industries, sanctioning Putin personally, and taking all steps to deprive Putin and his inner circle of their assets”, said Menendez in his statement. “The world must do more to stop the brutality and horror unfolding in Ukraine.”
An attack of freedom
Philly’s Major, Jim Kenney, said on his Facebook account that attacking Ukraine is also an attack of freedom everywhere. “My thoughts are with the people of Ukraine and our strong Ukrainian community here in Philadelphia. Our city stands ready to help and offer peace to those seeking a safe haven.”
In fact, the City of Brotherly Love hosts more than 15,000 Ukrainian inmigrants. It’s believed there are close to 60,000 Ukrainian Americans in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area.
Therefore, that figure makes the Greater Philadelphia the second largest home of Ukrainians in the country.
Consequently, some of the groups in Philly include the Ukrainian League of Philadelphia and the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center. The latter urges all Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine to write their politicians calling to stop Russia’s war; to share the truth about Russia’s war against Ukraine with their area’s media; and to boycott all Russian goods and services.
The Russian offensive, which began on Feb, Thursday 24th, has already left more than 100 deaths and around 100,000 displaced as of Friday 25th, according to official Ukrainian figures.
Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelenski, said that civilian areas have become a target and his country feels “alone” with an international community that, from his point of view, has not reacted firmly enough.