* “When the history of this era is written, Putin’s war on Ukraine will have left Russia weaker and the rest of the world stronger.”–President Joe Biden, in his State of the Union address.
* “President Biden has been clear that we are not going to get into a war with Russia.”–Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in reiterating that NATO will not establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
* “Poland will never recognize territorial changes brought about by unprovoked, unlawful aggression.”–Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau.
* “The beginning of every war is like opening the door into a dark room. One never knows what is hidden in the darkness.”–Adolph Hitler.
* “Together we defeated Hitler, and we will defeat Putin too.”–Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s minister of foreign affairs, in making the case for more fighters.
* “This is a cough syrup when you need a coronavirus vaccine.”–Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, on the post-World War II security order and the need for more help.
* “At best, they can expect to be prosecuted as criminals.”–Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov, in warning that any foreign fighters would not be considered soldiers, but mercenaries who would not be treated as POWs protected under humanitarian rules.
* “Putin’s Russia is not a latter-day Soviet Union but something that is in many ways more menacing. It is a personalist dictatorship with expanionist ambitions that seem to have forgotten the lesson the Soviet Union and the world learned from Nikita Khrushchev’s brinksmanship in Cuba in 1962. Eugene Huskey, professor emeritus of political science at Stetson University.
* “China wants to compete with America in the Super Bowl of economics, innovation and technology—and thinks it can win. Putin is ready to burn down the stadium and kill everyone in it to satisfy his grievances.”--Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times.
* “Germany and Europe made a grave mistake in coming to depend so heavily on Russian gas. … Depending on potential enemies for essential materials and manufactures is a mistake.”–Clive Crook, Bloomberg.
* “Germany and other European countries must wake up from the fantasy that peace is their birthright. They used to have serious fighting power. It is time to rebuild it.”–Chris Miller, Tufts University political scientist.
* “We–Russia–want to be a nation of peace. Alas, few people would call us that now.”–Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.
* “If (Putin’s) conduct in Chechnya—a territory Russia mauled militarily in the 1990s—is any example, a potential occupation of Ukraine will be bloody and brutal, with additional spillover risks.”–Historian Mary Elise Sarotte, author of “Not One Inch: America, Russia and the Making of Post-Cold War Stalemate.”
* “(Putin’s) legacy is in ruins, his invasion a historic blunder, his threat to use nuclear weapons a moral and strategic mistake.”–Peggy Noonan, Wall Street Journal.
* “In light of the unwarranted and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Cogent is terminating all of your services.”–Cogent Communications, a leading American internet services provider.
* “Even if (Putin) does win some sort of military victory, his future does not look good. Russia’s growing isolation and economic hardships will spread discontent to powerful business and even military interests, who could threaten Putin’s hold on power.”–Benjamin Carter Hett, author of “The Death of Democracy.”
* “The greatest need we have is for more people who can offer their homes in nearby countries, including Poland, Germany, Hungary and Romania.”–Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky.
* “If we are in a new hard-headed era, we will evaluate trade-offs like adults. Are we serious about choking off the source of Vladimir Putin’s power or not? Are we serious about combating climate change without illusions that wind and solar will do the job? … Nuclear power is the key to limiting climate change and hobbling some of the world’s worst aggressors.”–Mona Charen, Creators Syndicate.
* “By organizing, you multiply yourself, because you kind of add in your friends, your family, your network. It’s also a great social thing to do, because you bring people together.”–Tim Cadogan, CEO of GoFundMe.
* “I’m not religious, but I think there was an element of faith (in investing in Tampa). It was a big TV area and very beautiful.”–Water Street Tampa developer and Lightning owner Jeff Vinik.
* “Savor the past. Embrace the future.”–West Tampa Chamber of Commerce.