Today's News: Lighting up the world for Ukraine

World Unites in solidarity with Ukraine as the landmark lights up in blue and yellow 💙💛 pic.twitter.com/TIKIexzDSp

— JEY 🇺🇸 (@mmoaNkoaa) February 25, 2022

pic.twitter.com/bicWGLge3b

— Sedona 🕯 (@SedonajaneRocks) February 26, 2022

Standing tall. Standing for peace. pic.twitter.com/MArrG1OE5B

— City of New York (@nycgov) February 26, 2022

The world is supporting Ukraine, a development that apparently Putin did not expect. Even, apparently now, China.

Russia isn’t a huge exporting company. Mostly oil.

China is a YUGE exporter, largest in the world. They’re watching every one of their top 50 customers lining up, in unanimity, against Putin.

China will not go down with Putin. They will not incur ANY economic damage in support.

— Jeff Blackwell🇺🇸 (@JCBwellUS) February 25, 2022

Trudeau and Johnson are getting Europe and the world on board with tougher sanctions:

Diplomats tell us following sanctions are tricky:
- ITA, AUS, DE concerned abt broad banking-sector sanctions
- ITA resistant to sanctions that include railways
- ITA wants carve-out for luxury goods
- BEL wants carve-out for diamonds
+ broad reluctance to sanction energy sector

— Matina Stevis-Gridneff (@MatinaStevis) February 24, 2022

Hacking collective Anonymous declares 'cyber war' against Vladimir Putin's government https://t.co/eNuoUa4TKl

— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) February 25, 2022

And if there's one person who should know the pitfalls of a nation starting a war of choice, its David Frum:

If Putin's plan to end his war is

1) Ukrainian army overthrows elected government

2) New military regime signs quisling peace

3) NATO and the West accept the new regime

4) Ukrainian public submit ....

That's not a very good plan, and he's going to need another one.

— David Frum (@davidfrum) February 25, 2022

Even Republicans are starting to parrot "Its really all Biden's fault somehow" as they desperately try to make everyone forget their knee-jerk pro-Putin reactions yesterday.

“It takes a special kind of a son of a bitch to see innocent people fleeing their homes and think, ‘How can I make this about me?’ but nobody does that better than Donald Trump." - @JimmyKimmel #WeStandWithUkrainehttps://t.co/VJUJ8zRy1e

— Democratic Coalition (@TheDemCoalition) February 25, 2022

And here's a timely reminder:

America owes Ukraine. Trump tried to blackmail their President into creating a fake investigation into Biden to disrupt the 2020 election.

Zelenskyy refused. Knowing he wouldn't get weapons he needed to defend his home.

He refused.

We. Owe. Ukraine.

— Patrick S. Tomlinson (@stealthygeek) February 26, 2022

Sean Penn is in Ukraine right now shooting a documentary about the war because of course he is:

Sean Penn is 100% a Democrat!

This, my friends, show us his pure dedication to his art!

I wish him well!

You know this will come out before the election, right! pic.twitter.com/M2IgEH5uir

— 🏴‍☠️ Bob Lawrence --Obama is #1 (@TrumpluvsObama) February 25, 2022

To his credit, Louis CK refused to cancel his show tonight in Kyiv -- though it also led to this tweet:

MANAGER: So what next?
LOUIS CK: Maybe send me overseas where I can earn quietly but stay out of the news?
MANAGER: Leave it with me.

— Gourmet Spud (@gourmetspud) February 25, 2022

Russian athletes are being put on the spot and, with some risk to their families in Russia, are speaking up:

Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev wrote “No war please” on the camera after his win in Dubai

(via @TSN_Sports)pic.twitter.com/yT1ta9L5ye

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 25, 2022

Ovi on instagram. That’ll leave a mark. 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/vYRDR6GMY5

— Gerald Butts (@gmbutts) February 25, 2022

I hope its not just wishful thinking, but the war doesn't seem to be going Putin's way:

As of Feb 26 morning, Russia’s suffered 3500+ fatalities, ≈200 POWs. They planned a blitzkrieg, but failed. This past night paves a way for talks and it’s Ukraine who’s going to set conditions here - Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to president Zelensky

— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) February 26, 2022

Russia's plan clearly is to reach Kyiv as quickly as possible and force Zelensky to surrender, including Ukrainian forces across the country. If Russia can't take Kyiv quickly or if Zelensky refuses and resistance continues across Ukraine, Russia's costs and problems multiply. https://t.co/V2qz5YAIcw

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) February 26, 2022

Some good news for Ukraine, and an embarrassing admission for the Russian army that it even needs to ask for help from its poor neighbor, Kazakhstan. https://t.co/n9LUkI8Gmj

— Chris Woolf (@CCWoolf) February 26, 2022

“I believe the war must be immediately halted” - Communist Party State Duma deputy Mikhail Matveev becomes first Russian federal level lawmaker to oppose the Ukraine invasion. https://t.co/jLspZdwJEV

— Felix Light (@felix_light) February 26, 2022

Facebook just banned Russian state media from running ads or monetizing on Meta platforms anywhere in the world

— Stephanie Ruhle (@SRuhle) February 26, 2022

Can’t imagine why the Irish people would despise bullies who invade land which is not theirs. https://t.co/RwlFOG37ZZ

— Quinn Cummings (@quinncy) February 25, 2022

2. Good to see this.

UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) in extraordinary meeting pulls Champions League final from Russia.https://t.co/axl4W58jQy pic.twitter.com/HfsdAL1G3u

— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) February 25, 2022

4. Good to see this.

International Olympic Committee urges all sports federations to move their events out of Russia AND Belarushttps://t.co/CcrXCk99oB pic.twitter.com/3LN6rgStRi

— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) February 25, 2022

6. Good to see this.

International Ski Federation (FIS) cancels all remaining World Cup events with Russiahttps://t.co/doFHV1YXdL pic.twitter.com/5uoPXMmidn

— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) February 25, 2022

8. Good to see this.

World Curling Federation removes European Curling Championships 2022 from Russiahttps://t.co/LByj0uYp3l pic.twitter.com/MQa7D3tPDq

— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) February 25, 2022

The courage of the Ukrainians is legendary now:

I just burst into tears. https://t.co/05GOKe4sLz

— A Page...in your life💉💉💉♥️⛵️🇨🇦♥️🇺🇦 (@sailorgirl2017) February 26, 2022

Ukrainian grannies fighting for their grandchildren. https://t.co/kzn3ErmZT6

— Zina Spezakis, CFA ✊🏼🌹🌎 (@ZSpezakis) February 26, 2022

When you are up against unbelievable odds, stories of heroes may be the only thing giving you the strength to keep fighting.

The sunflower seed lady, the Ghost of Kyiv, and Snake Island are stories that the Russians can never defeat.

This is what Putin is most afraid of, hope.

— Ted Corcoran (RedTRaccoon) (@RedTRaccoon) February 25, 2022

7/20 The phrase “Russian warship, go F*$# yourself” will join other great responses from military history like “Nuts!”. Last week, none of us had heard of Snake Island. Today, none of us will ever forgot what these servants of their nation did there. pic.twitter.com/AgHCTRceCr

— Major General Mick Ryan (@WarintheFuture) February 26, 2022

Ukraine will honor the border guards who heroically died on Snake Island. https://t.co/tUlabrUMUq

— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) February 26, 2022

Pro Tip: when you invade another country and a lady walks up to you and says 'Take these seeds and put them in your pockets so at least sunflowers will grow when you die here' it’s time to go home, fast.

— NoelCaslerComedy (@caslernoel) February 25, 2022

In Ottawa, there was #BalconyMan. In Ukraine, there is #SunflowerLady 🇺🇦 💛 https://t.co/5hCDOQ2Lx7

— Dr Victoria Austen (@Vicky_Austen) February 25, 2022

Reports of this lone pilot having shot down 6 Russian Aircraft and possibly being the first 21st century Ace are circulating. They're being nicknamed the Ghost of Kyiv and I am in fucking awe. https://t.co/lakzodkEiU

— Hawkerhellfire (@hawkerhellfire) February 24, 2022

Awesome. https://t.co/z9JRenMkwS

— Isaac Britton (pen name) (@IsaacBrittonSr) February 26, 2022

For what it's worth, Masada is the founding myth of the Israel Defense Force. https://t.co/TcaDxhKjnw

— Fred of Fred Hall (@LesserFrederick) February 26, 2022

A baby has been born in the subway in Ukraine: pic.twitter.com/0PYOFOgRVs

— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) February 25, 2022

War criminals go straight to hell.

HT @MeidasTouch #DefeatPutin #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦

pic.twitter.com/IVZ71ypJUU

— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) February 26, 2022

Shchedryk by the great Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/Q3NUNty8VA

— Patrick Dexter (@patrickdextervc) February 25, 2022

.@ZelenskyyUa's tv address to the Russian (!) people might be the most moving speech that I've ever seen in my entire life. The whole world needs to see, understand and share this crucial Ukrainian message.#StandWithUkraine #Ukraine #Україна #Russia #Россия pic.twitter.com/WoMOgqXTWX

— Patrick Moelleken 🇺🇦 (@PMoelleken) February 24, 2022

Canada proudly proclaims one of the largest Ukrainian diaspora in the world - the paintings of Manitoba artist William Kurelek tell their story here:

These paintings hang in Rideau Hall. They depict the oppression of Tsarist Russia, the promise of migration, its realisation on the Canadian prairies, and then, a distant mushroom cloud warns that oppression could return. We must restore that promise #StandWithUkraine https://t.co/qYsfPFEnua

— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) February 26, 2022

The Ukrainian Pioneer (No. 6)
William Kurelek
1971, 1976 pic.twitter.com/VV71vYUJkI

— Canadian Paintings (@CanadaPaintings) February 24, 2022

Ukrainian Families were some of the 1st families to settle in Treaty 6 territory, before Alberta was a Province. There are many instances of friendship between Indigenous & Ukrainian peoples that highlight the Spirit & Intent of Treaty 6. Our thoughts are with their kin back home

— Chief Billy Morin (@RealBillyMorin) February 24, 2022

Wearing my “khustka” or “Kohkum scarf” in solidarity with Ukraine. Indigenous helped Ukrainian settlers here & we’ve always had friendships & respect because we both know hardship. Ukrainian women gave these floral scarfs to native women & they’re now embedded into our culture💕 pic.twitter.com/llSJmlMTvx

— Brandi Morin (@Songstress28) February 25, 2022