Outcry against Putin’s war echoes around the world

As Ukrainians defended their homeland from invasion, governments, businesses, and individuals across the world condemned the decisions of Russian President Vladimir Putin—including in his own country. Anti-war protests continued in Russian cities over the weekend despite police arresting more than 2,000 demonstrators on Sunday alone. “I’m burning with shame,” one protester told Radio Free Europe. Another said, “We are the aggressor state. And people are dying because of us. And it grosses me out.”

What about outside Russia? For the first time ever, the EU as a bloc will purchase and deliver weapons to a country that is under attack, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Sunday. The U.S., EU, and the U.K. on Saturday agreed to cut key Russian banks off from the SWIFT global transaction system that moves billions of dollars around the world each day. The EU, along with Canada, is also closing its airspace to Russian airlines. U.S. President Joe Biden approved $350 million in military aid to Ukraine. In sports, the national soccer teams of Sweden and Poland refused to play Russia in upcoming World Cup qualifying and playoff matches, and Norway’s ski federation said it would not allow Russian skiers to compete in the country. Bars and liquor stores in North America pulled Russian-made and -branded vodka from their shelves and promoted Ukrainian brands instead. “The U.S. obviously is putting on sanctions. I thought I would put on sanctions as well,” said bar owner Bob Quay of Grand Rapids, Mich.

Dig deeper: Read Mark Tooley’s column in WORLD Opinions on ways the United States can counter Putin’s aggression.