At a recent biotech conference, we met Ukrainian American Rostyslav Semikov, CEO of Audubon Bioscience. He agreed to come on our sister podcast, Five O’Clock, to talk about the war in his country, which he says is their “War of Independence, their 1776.” It’s a great conversation, so we’re sharing it today with the Mendelspod audience.
Last, Congress included $200 million in aid as part of the annual defense bill. But the larger aid package of $110 billion to Ukraine and Israel has been stalled by Republicans. Are Americans growing weary of support?
Rostyslav’s parents live in Ukraine near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Not only are bombs dropping around them, but there could be a horrible nuclear accident.
“Every time we talk, they say we may not see you. And if something happens to us, we love you,” he says at the outset of today’s show.
What is the history of the cultures between Ukraine and Russia? Rostyslav says Russian President Vladimir Putin thought he would be welcome in Ukraine and overtake Kyiv within three days. Twenty-one months later, the war drags on.
Rostyslav reminds us that the support of France turned the tide in the American War of Independence.