Sunday Best: “Kyiv was shaking”

This is what it's like in a city under attack.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story February 27, 2022 "On Thursday, I woke up at dawn to the sound of blasts," wrote Veronika Melkozerova, a Ukrainian journalist, in a guest essay last week. "Kyiv was shaking." It wasn't long before the explosions turned into "a full-scale attack from multiple directions," marking the beginning of "the first major land war in Europe in decades." President Vladimir Putin's forces have now attacked several Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv. "Does the United States or its allies and friends have the levers, and the will, to punish Russia sufficiently to stymie Mr. Putin's ambitions?" asked the editorial board on Friday. Sanctions have not yet deterred the Russian president, and Rachel Ashford cautioned, "We should be under no illusions that they will alter Mr. Putin's calculus." However, our columnist Paul Krugman argued that there's a way they could "be very effective, if the West shows the will — and is willing to take on its own corruption." Let's hope it does. Because, as Richard Haass has pointed out, Mr. Putin clearly thinks this war is worth fighting, no matter the cost. "It is up to the United States and its partners to prove he got his calculations badly wrong," he says. — Jennifer Brown Illustration by Cristiana Couceiro; Photographs by Bettmann Archive; Afro American Newspapers/Gado; Mondadori; George Marks/Retrofile; Tom Kelley Archive; Burazin; Artinun Prekmoung/EyeEm, all via Getty Images America In Focus These 12 Women Don't Want It All. They Want Better. Our new Times Opinion focus group explored life in America by asking younger women about work, equal pay, relationships, #MeToo and parenting.  By Sarah Wildman Kitra Cahana A Stroke Left Him Isolated. Love Is His Lifeline. A rabbi in a long-term care facility reflects on what it means to be alive in a state of profound isolation. By Kitra Cahana Mikel Jaso Guest Essay How Covid Stole Our Time and How We Can Get It Back 'Depressing Math' can help you live a more fulfilled life. By Tim Urban Izzet Keribar/Stone, via Getty Images Guest Essay My Synagogue Was Attacked, but I Will Never Stop Welcoming the Stranger At the core of most ethical traditions is a command to open our doors, not to close them.  By Charlie Cytron-Walker Jackie Carlise Guest Essay Ignoring a Text Message or Email Isn't Always Rude. Sometimes It's Necessary. Ignoring a Slack, email or text message feels rude, but should it? By Erica Dhawan Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT EDITOR'S PODCAST PICK The New York Times Anita Hill Takes On Those 'Trying to Put Black Women in a Box' The law professor who testified during Justice Clarence Thomas's confirmation 30 years ago reflects on what hasn't changed about the American judiciary. By 'Sway' Subscribe Today New York Times Opinion curates a wide range of views, inviting rich discussion and debate that helps readers analyze the world. This work is made possible with the support of subscribers. Please consider subscribing to The Times with this special offer. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Sunday Best from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018