THUNDER BAY — For a Ukrainian family now living in Thunder Bay, it's been unnerving to watch Donald Trump moving to strike a deal with Vladimir Putin at the possible expense of their homeland's territory and security.
"When Trump suggested giving Ukrainian territories to Russia, it sounds like an absolutely ridiculous proposition because we will have so many victims of this war for nothing. Now everybody wants us to get rid of our land. It's terrifying," said Mariia Sukhanov.
Following the Russian invasion, she, her husband and their two children moved to Thunder Bay in August 2022 under the sponsorship of local residents Chris and Kim Francis, whose home they stayed in for six months.
They've settled nicely into the community, and just recently opened a gluten-free restaurant in the 200 block of Algoma Street South.
Although the restaurant is keeping them busy, on Monday – the third anniversary of the Russian attack – Sukhanov's thoughts naturally went to her native country, to family members still there, and to what the future holds for them.
"It's always hard to talk about that, you know. I think every Ukrainian who went through the war has the same feeling of coldness inside us. I don't know how to explain that. It feels like we can't move, you know?"
Her elderly parents are still living in Ukraine and are "as fine as possible" under the circumstances, she said.
Sukhanov said she was upset but not necessarily surprised by Trump's turn toward the Russian point of view on the conflict.
"I was expecting some absolutely unpredictable situation from him. I don't think he's a good choice by the people of America. I don't think he's a good president. I was thinking he might do something like that."
At the same time, she said, she had been hoping for some more reasonable suggestions from Trump for ending the conflict.
Sukhanov said she believes it will be difficult to get him to change course because "he has a target, and I don't think it's possible to change that. I don't think somebody can explain to him that it's not a good thing."
Her worst fear is that Russia some day will take over Ukraine completely.
In Thunder Bay, though, her family is enjoying what she described as a "quiet and safe life, surrounded by kindhearted people."
They have applied for permanent residency status in Canada, and hope to make the city their long-term home.
Trump's embrace of Russia has also shaken other members of the Ukrainian community in Thunder Bay.
Walter Warywoda, a past president of the local chapter of the League of Ukrainian Canadians, called the actions of the Trump administration "shocking".
Pointing to the United Nations, where the U.S. sided with Russia on Monday during votes marking the anniversary of the invasion, he said the situation is not looking positive for Ukraine at the moment, and that people here can only hope for the best.
