BEforUkraine

🇺🇦 I'm back from a road trip across Europe to Ukraine, where we delivered 5 ambulances 🚑 🚑 🚑 🚑 🚑 , together with medical materials (1st help kits, wheelchairs, etc), to a local medical organization -- 2 have been deployed to local hospitals, and 2 as evacuation vehicles close to the front lines (the fifth one will follow, after some minor repairs). Kudos to BEforUkraine, which has been organizing these convoys ever since February 2022, and runs a very smooth operation! It's been a deeply moving experience. We met the leaders of the local organization taking delivery, who showed us around and treated us to a heartwarming meal of Ukrainian specialties. We visited the military section of the cemetery where, as in all Ukrainian cities and villages, soldiers killed in the war are brought to be buried and honoured. All graves show a picture of the soldier, are covered in flowers, candles and some personal objects, and carry the national flag. A couple of take aways 🙏 everywhere we went we were overwhelmed by gratitude shown by Ukrainians. The idea that Ukraine doesn't show enough gratitude feels just very odd.  💯 while people we met of course pay attention to world events (we arrived just after the out-of-this-world White House meeting), they show huge determination, feel they have no choice but to keep fighting for their country and won't let uncertainties around Western support detract them from their fight. 💙💛 I did tell them how grateful WE felt -- whatever small price our countries pay in supporting them, it is nothing compared to the price they pay to defend our common way of life and values. #Ukraine #BEforUkraine

I'm excited to share that I'll be joining a convoy to deliver 5 ambulances to Ukraine at the end of February, in collaboration with BEforUkraine — a Belgian volunteer organization that’s been a beacon of hope since 2022, and has already delivered over 100 ambulances 🚑🚑 and tons of life-saving materials. Ukraine isn’t just fighting for its own sovereignty and independence; it’s standing on the front line to defend Europe against a clear and present danger. In light of the recent geopolitical turmoil, questions around US support and general uncertainty, it feels that showing European solidarity has never been more crucial. Ukrainian backing is dwindling, morale is low. In some ways, Ukraine is like a startup with a limited runway — except that in this case, failure isn’t an option, and costs include human lives and livelihoods. Such convoys may be viewed as drop in an ocean of need, but they have real impact, as the ambulances and materials are immediately dispatched across Ukraine and put to use right away. They save lives. And they show grassroot support from us, civilians, to them, civilians turned fighters. If you'd like to know more about BEforUkraine, or support financially, I'll add details below 👇 in comments. "It is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog" (Mark Twain). We need, for the future of Ukraine and Europe, to keep fuelling that fighting spirit in the coming month. #Solidarity #Ukraine #BeForUkraine