Love Over War: A Russian Flag Hugs A Ukrainian Flag In Viral Photo

Amidst, Russia Ukraine war and the ongoing military conflict between the two countries, this picture resurfaced on the internet and brings up a special sentiment.

"Poignant: A man draped in the Ukrainian flag embraces a woman wearing the Russian flag," Mr. Shashi Tharoor wrote while sharing the image on Twitter with the backdrop of the Russia Ukraine War. "Let us hope love, peace and co-existence triumph over war and conflict," he added. This picture was originally posted three years ago- Juliana Kuznetsova (the woman in the photograph) and her fiancé were at a concert in Poland in 2019. Even then, the tensions between the two countries weren't settled even then. At the time, a significant meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss a peace deal.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Russia launched attacks when President Vladmir Putin declared war on Ukraine on Thursday. Following which, an approximate of 1,00,000 people fled the major cities hit by the explosions. Recently, Prime Minster Modi also appealed to Putin on Thursday for an "immediate cessation of violence". Russia started a "special military operation", in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region on Thursday morning. The military presence in Ukraine, according to Russian authorities, is on a "peacekeeping mission". “Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don’t see anyone. Who is ready to give Ukraine a guarantee of NATO membership? Everyone is afraid,” Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The United Nations Security Council- 15 member panel is likely to vote on Friday on a draft resolution that would condemn the very existence of the Russia Ukraine war and require Moscow to immediately and unconditionally withdraw. While Russia is likely to veto their decision, but that will be seen as a chance to try and isolate Moscow, seeking at least 13 votes in favor and an abstention by Russia’s partner – China.

Around the same time, seven years back, in February and March 2014, Russia marked the annexation of Crimea which brings in a larger reflection on the status of the war and their current stance on their military operations with Ukraine. In a statement, the U.S. State Department said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, talked with the Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Thursday and “stressed the importance of a strong collective response to condemn Russia’s invasion and call for an immediate withdrawal and ceasefire.”

As per the reports on Friday, 137 military personnel and civilians had been killed in the fighting so far, with hundreds of others injured. Ukrainian officials earlier reported at least 70 people killed.

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