With great power comes great responsibility. As one with vast control over Russia’s government and military, your decisions and actions have direct consequences for tens and hundreds of millions, and in this interlinked world, the outward-spreading ripples impact billions. You’re well aware that due to your personal, chosen course of “action”, thousands of lives have already been lost in Ukraine – Russian soldiers as well as Ukranian soldiers and civilians… many civilians… mothers and babies, sons and daughters, fathers, grandparents. Millions already have been displaced from their homes, communities, jobs, schools… from simply living their lives and loving their families without fear, deprivation and great loss. The Ukranians did not choose and initiate this, you did. Other countries did not choose and initiate this, you did, though Russia was in absolutely no danger of itself being invaded or attacked.

You’ve initiated a horrific invasion that has no viable endgame, and the consequences and suffering for both Ukraine and Russia will only escalate as this continues. A heartless, arrogant fool will ignore reality, refusing to acknowledge, even to himself, an epic mistake. A tyrant will punish even his country’s own citizens who call for a halt to this tragic war on Ukraine and will instead continue to show no regard for others’ lives, escalating suffering day by day, in worst case even “doubling down” on his initial, cruel decision. That cannot be the legacy you would wish to leave mankind, what you’d want to be remembered for. We hope and pray that you are still capable of listening to others and looking deep within and finding the courage, sensibility, and soul to stop this carnage and end this attack. That is the right thing to do, so how about stunning the world and being remembered for that, for making a compassionate choice that brings great relief and joy to billions? Better that one man [you] reverse course than thousands more die and increasing millions suffer. May we all live in peace.

From fellow human beings on this planet we share.