Why Gratitude Isn’t Always Simple

Some analysts think the war in Ukraine is heading into its last moments. The United States, one of Ukraine’s biggest donors, has already handed President Volodymyr Zelensky a peace proposal. People who follow politics closely say parts of it lean in Russia’s favor. Donald Trump even told Zelensky to accept the deal or risk losing American support.

From January 2022, about a month before the invasion, to mid 2025, the European Union sent around 167 billion euros in aid to Ukraine. The US sent about 115.4 billion euros in the same period. A good chunk of that isn’t cash but military equipment and financial support. US auditors say the country has allocated around 175 billion dollars to Ukraine, including funds to support US military personnel stationed there.

Even with all that, no one seems completely sure how much money actually reached Ukraine. Corruption scandals around Zelensky’s inner circle have only added to the confusion. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees in Europe and the US are rumored to be heading home, as host countries struggle with their own economic problems and cut back on support.

A little history behind “thank you”

In Russian, спасибо (spasibo) is “thank you.” The word actually comes from an older phrase, spasi bog, which means “may the gods save you.” Spasi means “to save,” and bog means “gods.” The phrase started as part of a prayer from the Native Slavic belief system before it became something people said every day.

Illustration: private collection

The idea behind spasibog is simple. When someone gives you something that helps you or brings joy, you wish something good for them in return. Over time the expression shifted from a prayer to a polite phrase, but the deeper message stayed the same.

In Slavic culture, gratitude isn’t meant to stop at words. You show it through action, including gratitude toward nature and ancestors. One tradition still practiced today is pouring a little beer or vodka before drinking, almost like sharing it with the ancestors. It reminds me of my Balinese friends (most of them were Hindus) in college who did something very similar. Their habit spread fast among our non-Hindu friends because the meaning behind it was beautiful.

Saying thanks in a world like this

Now we’re in a situation where many Ukrainian refugees might be sent home even though they’re not sure what kind of safety or stability waits for them. Before the war, Ukraine already had social assistance programs, though far from perfect by European standards.

Imagine if all the humanitarian aid the government received were used as social support. Life in Ukraine might be much better than it is now. If Russia had never invaded, Ukraine might never have received billions in aid to begin with. It’s strange to think about, but sometimes disaster really does bring unexpected blessings.

Ancient people knew this. They took time to show gratitude because they understood how many forces shape what we receive in life. Modern society doesn’t like this idea because it sounds old fashioned or too full of rules. But ignoring the bigger picture makes it easy to forget one simple truth: money behaves like easy come easy go. What arrives quickly can disappear just as fast. When things feel easy, people forget to plan, manage, and think long term, which is the whole point of aid in the first place. (dswas)