Thoughts on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine – Rick Steves’ Travel Blog

Now is a profoundly unfortunate working day. Russia’s intense action is heartbreaking for the dying, suffering, and economic turmoil it will result in in Ukraine and, indirectly at the very least, beyond. Below at Rick Steves’ Europe, we hope that a diplomatic solution can be discovered and peace will return to that fragile and extensive-struggling aspect of our world.

Our mission at RSE is to help Us citizens much better know and recognize our neighbors through travel. But when we convey tourists to an additional region, we also bring their pounds — pounds that would help Putin’s aggression. As a result, as of currently, we have canceled all 2022 tours that include things like a stop in Russia.

Of program, we will keep a shut eye on unfolding activities and check any vacation impacts through the rest of Europe. But it is significant to retain geographic realities in thoughts and bear in mind that a war in Ukraine is as much from our European getaway goals as a war in Guatemala would be from Texas or Florida. For 40 several years now, we have lived, worked, and traveled via quite a few periods of tragic warfare in lands significantly from the place we direct our tours (and some closer). And at this time, we see no explanation to modify the rest of our travel and touring programs.

The tragic truth unfolding in Ukraine only reminds me how significant it is for People to keep on touring and to do so in a way that can make us much better and more engaged citizens of our world. I’m traveling to Europe following month for a 40-day vacation by way of a dozen excellent cities from London to Athens — and I’m proud that thousands of my fellow vacationers will knowledge the European trip of their desires though obtaining rich studying activities significantly from home on a 2022 Rick Steves tour.

In the meantime, let’s be grateful for our blessings, assist our nation’s leaders as they do their most effective to navigate this disaster, and keep the troubled corners of our world (Ukraine, Russia, Afghanistan, and extra) in our views and prayers.

—Rick