TASCA: Obviously, this is a very troubling situation that’s happening in your native country. What’s your reaction to what’s happening right now in Ukraine?
KRONER: It’s beyond troubling. It’s absolutely soul-crushing, heart-breaking. Words fail to express how horrified I am to see what is going on. Of course, it was expected. However, it is very different to expect and wait and know something will happen and then actually seeing the bombs explode and seeing people die. Especially for me, someone who was born and raised in Ukraine, it’s a surreal experience. It’s nothing short of horrifying.
TASCA: Can you describe your emotions and what you’ve been thinking in the lead up to this invasion?
KRONER: Well, this isn’t new. Russian aggression towards Ukraine didn’t start yesterday. It didn’t even start in 2014 (when Russia invaded and annexed Crimea). We have had very serious repressions against Ukraine, against our people, against our national identity, against our way of life by the Communist regime.
I’m sure many of your listeners are aware of the Holodomor, which took place in 1932. It was an artificially engineered famine that took millions and millions of Ukrainian lives. So as you can understand (by) looking back at our history, and the history of the repression of our church, of our culture, of our language, of our traditions, we want independence from our “big brother,” so-to-speak.
This desire for independence, this desire for freedom, this desire for a nation of our own for a sense of dignity and national identity, doesn’t sit right with Mr. Putin, who has lamented the fall of the Soviet Union. He has said it was the greatest geopolitical tragedy within his lifetime. He’s made it his life’s mission to bring all the former (Soviet) republics back into the sphere of Russian influence. This is just the next step for him. He is interested in reestablish the former Soviet Union as it was before the fall of the Iron Curtain.
TASCA: Is it possible for Russia and Ukraine to co-exist with Vladimir Putin leading the Russian country?
KRONER: The question is, if he’s replaced by somebody else, do we really know for a fact that it would be different? Just about anybody who has led Russia or the Soviet Union or Czarist Russia has been very aggressive towards Ukraine.
Since 2014, we’ve lost about 14,000 people. These are our best and brightest, our young men and women who have put their lives on the line and dared to dream the big dream of having an independent nation. They’ve given the ultimate sacrifice and I don’t know how many more have to die to accomplish this.
I have no hatred towards the Russian people, but I certainly oppose their aggressive politics towards my country, my ancestral homeland, as well as other former Soviet republics that became independent nations.
TASCA: Would you like to see more assistance from the Western powers in countering Russian aggression?
KRONER: That’s a very good question and a very difficult question. Before this invasion, I was against antagonizing Putin. I wanted measured and sane leadership from our Western allies. But the continuous painting of red lines that are then crossed without any response just makes NATO look weak.
I think Ukraine needs military assistance in terms of weapons, ammunition, and supplies. I will stop short of calling for NATO troops on the ground in hopes of somehow avoiding World War 3 because this situation can quickly escalate and become a world conflict.
TASCA: Is there part of you that thinks more sanctions and diplomatic efforts may not be enough?
KRONER: Yes, it may not be enough. But I am a priest. I am not a politician. I am not a talking head or a media expert. I fight with prayer. I don’t know what the solution is. It’s a very difficult and volatile situation. I pray that God will enlighten the leadership of all countries, Russia included, to bring these hostilities to an end.
Joe Tasca can be reached at jtasca@ripr.org
