While President Donald Trump threatened Russia with oil tariffs on Sunday in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s noncompliance to agree on a ceasefire deal, local Ukrainians in northwest Ohio have continued aid and advocacy for their home country since the war broke out in 2022.
Ongoing negotiations since the U.S. proposed a 30-day full ceasefire offer little hope for Ukraine, as Ukraine and Russia are not speaking directly at negotiations, despite Ukraine’s territory being the focus of the discussions, according to Neal Jesse, a political science professor at Bowling Green State University.
“Countries who are typically in this position get carved up,” Jesse said.
In these peace talks, the U.S. acts as a messenger, but not the greatest one, Jesse said.
“The fact that Ukraine is not actually part of the ceasefire agreements between Russia and the United States is, from historical analogy, a very bad sign for Ukraine,” Jesse said.
On Thursday, March 27, European leaders met in Paris for a summit where they pledged long-term support to Ukraine’s army. European leaders are pushing for Ukraine’s presence at the negotiations, according to Jesse.
“This is why the European leaders want (President Volodymyr) Zelensky at the table,” Jesse said. “Russia does not want (Ukraine) there. As long as Zelensky and Putin are not directly negotiating, Putin will have the advantage because what he’s trying to do is find a way to take Ukraine.”
With over 6.9 million Ukrainian refugees globally, the local community in Toledo is stepping up to help as Russia continues airstrikes in the midst of ceasefire negotiations.
Alona Matchenko, founder of Toledo Helps Ukraine, established her organization after her family was forcibly relocated from central Ukraine when the war broke out in 2022.
“Everybody was concerned and fearful for their life,” Matchenko said. “They never traveled that far. They had to get their backpacks and leave immediately to Poland, basically into nowhere.”
Toledo Helps Ukraine sent aid shipments and assisted 67 Ukrainians in relocating to the U.S. now, the nonprofit is focusing on supporting dignified transfers, according to Matchenko.
“Our dedicated volunteer on the ground…One of his missions, not just deliver aid to destroyed areas and people in need, his recent efforts towards bringing deceased soldiers to their families,” Matchenko said. “You need to be strong, mentally, physically, emotionally, to be able to encounter with the families who just lost their son or daughter in the war.”
Toledo Helps Ukraine will host a fundraiser Saturday, April 5, where attendees can learn to make pysanky, or Ukrainian Easter eggs.
“We would like to introduce this long-standing tradition of painting eggs (for) Easter holiday to Americans, and so everybody is invited,” Matchenko said.
To learn more about Toledo Helps Ukraine and the fundraiser, visit 4ua.org.
