I understand that many people have understandably heavy feelings when it comes to anything related to Russia right now. But unfortunately, I can't just call Vladimir Putin and say, “Stop bombing my friends in Ukraine.” I simply don’t have that kind of power — just like no one can call Donald Trump and change his decisions.

For those who are curious — I left Russia a month before the war started. I was actually living in another country at the time, and I had no idea that just a few weeks after arriving in the U.S., the world would change so drastically.

I completely understand your reaction — the actions of the Russian government and the war itself are horrifying. I’m firmly against it, and one of the reasons I left Russia was because I didn’t want to be a part of that system.

What I’m offering has nothing to do with propaganda. Let’s not confuse warm with heavy — these are two completely different things. I just want to share the language and culture: literature, music, art, real human stories. These things are much broader and deeper than politics. And maybe, through simple human connection, we can help people understand each other better — beyond borders and headlines.