“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”

― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

A RESPECTED Ilonggo diplomat, our friend and fellow chess player, has sharply reacted to Kremlin’s ongoing invasion of Kyiv: “Praying they'll have their shit and eat it too, and not impart it on us.”

He was saying that if war was inevitable in Europe now that Vladimir Putin has stubbornly shown willingness to take on all NATO-allied countries siding with Ukraine, we should be spared from whatever consequences—political and economic—in the event violence would escalate into horrific proportions.

By “we” means the Philippines in particular, and Asia in general.

We absolutely have nothing to do whatsoever with Putin’s war against the former Soviet-nation Ukraine, except that we can only offer prayers as suggested in the social media by those who love freedom and detest war and violence.

“Pray for Ukraine” must now be the most popular outcry all over the world both in the social media and in the churches and other houses of worship.

Many of us in the Christian world who believe in the power and miracle of prayers actually have begun asking for the Divine Intervention weeks back, even when Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy, a comedian-turned-politician and now the Ukraine president, didn’t believe Russia would attack the second largest country in Europe.

Militarily the Filipinos can never be involved since the Philippines basically isn’t a NATO member and Europe is oceans apart even if they share the same diplomatic sentiments with the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other NATO members.

While we’re safe from Putin’s bombs and tanks, economically, the Russia-Ukraine tumult may have far-reaching effects in the life of Juan dela Cruz as a resident of the Third World country.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine will definitely have geopolitical and humanitarian consequences aside from economic ones.

One indicator suggested about the economic impact Americans might feel, especially at the gas pump, a concern aired by former President Barrack Obama.

The second would be another supply-chain breakdown. And the final indicator sheds light on why the Russian economy is able to punch above its weight.

Filipinos are luckier for having only a president who disparages and incarcerates women dissidents but doesn’t pick up a fight against Goliath China.

Unlike the Russians whose president doesn’t care if his unpopular acts would trigger the bloodiest and most destructive war in the European history.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)