International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

A Ukrainian Socialist Went to War. Here's What He Thinks About Peace.

Sasha Talaver, Taras Bilous — 2026-02-25T15:23:00Z

Four years into Russia's invasion, Taras Bilous — a socialist serving in the Ukrainian army — reflects on exhaustion, negotiations, and why a bad ceasefire could be a boon for the far right.

- IVP613 - February 2026 / Ukraine

“If we didn't join the armed forces, the left in Ukraine would cease to exist,” says Taras Bilous

Taras Bilous — 2024-04-17T08:30:19Z

“If I were to give some general advice, I would recommend paying less attention to which abstract position is correct, and focusing more on practical action to help us climb out of the hole we are in.”

- IV591 - April 2024 / Ukraine

The Far Right in Ukraine

Stephen R Shalom, Taras Bilous — 2023-02-10T12:22:20Z

“The full-scale Russian invasion partially smoothed over the former conflicts between the various leftists in Ukraine, because on the most important issue, the absolute majority of the Ukrainian left took the same position — support and participation in the resistance.”

- IV577 - February 2023 / Ukraine, Far Right

Eastern Europe's Tragedy

Taras Bilous — 2022-09-04T17:33:53Z

“The Russian-Ukrainian war put an end to the post-Soviet period. The nature of the emergent period, including our current moment, will be decided on the battlefield. If Ukraine wins, we will finally have a chance for progressive changes not only in Ukraine, but also in the larger post-Soviet space.”

- 2022 - Ukraine / Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, Ukraine debate

How the Spheres of Influence Policy Amplifies Reaction

Taras Bilous — 2022-08-11T14:43:30Z

Should the Left support the division of the world into imperialist spheres of influence? A year ago, the very posing of such a question would have surprised me, since the answer seems obvious: of course not. Unfortunately, the apparent sympathy with Russian aggression against Ukraine by many on the Western left has shown that this is not so obvious.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, Susan Watkins actually endorsed Putin's desire to divide Europe into spheres of influence (…)

- 2022 - Ukraine / United States (USA), Russia, Ukraine, NATO, Ukraine debate

I'm a Ukrainian Socialist. Here's Why I Resist the Russian Invasion.

Taras Bilous — 2022-08-06T09:31:40Z

"Socialist internationalists must evaluate every conflict based on the interests of working people and their struggle for freedom and equality."

- IV571 - August 2022 / Ukraine

Self-Determination and the War in Ukraine

Taras Bilous — 2022-05-05T11:35:00Z

Two months ago, when I wrote “A Letter to the Western Left from Kyiv,” I hoped that the shock of the Russian invasion and the voices of the Ukrainian left would push Western leftists to reconsider their approach. Unfortunately, too many of them have failed to do so. In their analyses of the war, Ukrainians are just victims in need of humanitarian aid, not subjects with desires that should be respected.
Of course, this doesn't apply to everyone on the left—not by a long shot. Scandinavian (…)

- 2022 - Ukraine / Ukraine, Ukraine debate

“The Left in the West Must Rethink”

Jan Ole Arps, Oksana Dutchak, Taras Bilous — 2022-03-13T12:28:35Z

“At the moment, leftists should demand that their governments put pressure on Russia. That doesn't mean they have to support all sanctions, but it is important to clarify priorities. At the moment, the priority is to put pressure on Russia to stop the war. Social movements should support the protests against the war and support people who have to flee.”

- IV566 - March 2022 / Ukraine

A letter to the Western Left from Kyiv

Taras Bilous — 2022-02-26T05:27:08Z

The ‘anti-imperialism of idiots' meant people turned a blind eye to Russia's actions

- IV565 - February 2022 / Ukraine