As of February 24, the Russia-Ukraine war hit its three year mark. These past few years have taken a large toll on the Ukrainian economy and population. The total sum of the direct damage is 176 billion US dollars. There has been extreme damage to the transportation industry, with more than 26 thousand kilometers of roads destroyed, along with 260,000 cars. In mid-December 2024, two Russian oil tankers were hit by a storm and leaked over 4,300 tons of oil into the Black Sea. In addition to the 176 billion dollars, there is an additional $56.4 billion in damage to the environment through the chemical contamination of air, water, and soil. As of January, there are almost 250,000 damaged and destroyed buildings, 222,000 of which are private residential houses.
The damage to Ukraine’s infrastructure has displaced 10.6 million people, 6.9 million of which have crossed into neighboring countries like Hungary and Poland. 12.7 million people in Ukraine are currently in need of humanitarian assistance this year, and 2 million of them are children. Due to the war, it isn’t just people’s livelihoods that have been irreversibly damaged, but also their lives. More than 12,600 civilians have been killed since the start of the Russian invasion.
During his run for president, Donald Trump made it abundantly clear that he wants to end the war. Now that he has claimed power, he has kept his promise on attempting to end the war. However, many of Trump’s negotiations seem to be occurring without including Ukraine’s president, Zelenskyy. Trump has had a negative relationship with Zelenskyy since the start of his term, calling him a dictator and accusing him of not wanting peace. Their political relationship has devolved over the past weeks with Trump commenting that “this guy [Zelenskyy] doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing,” and that Zelenskyy “should be more appreciative” for the financial and military aid the U.S. has provided. Despite their grievances, a deal that would give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s minerals is in the process. In return, America would provide monetary aid and assistance in organizing a cease fire. While this deal is still in the works, hopefully it is a step closer to peace.
Many students at Hastings High school agree that the impact of the war on Ukraine and its environment are devastating and the students would like the war to come to a peaceful conclusion. A possible ceasefire agreement is making many students optimistic about the outcome.
