As the New Year begins, I want to be candid and straightforward. The following statements are mine and mine alone.  With that stated, let me start by saying the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East need to stop now—not a ceasefire for a brief period—but an all-out conclusion to the bloodshed that has massacred hundreds of thousands of people.

Since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an illegal invasion of Ukraine, over 10,000 civilians have been killed, including more than 560 children. Moreover, over 18,500 civilians have been injured.

Earlier in 2023, the