Dutch Writer Says She Set Out to Show the Netherlands What Ukraine Is Like Just as War Began

Dutch writer Lisa Weeda, who is of Ukrainian descent, has described the experience of trying to introduce audiences in the Netherlands to Ukraine at the very moment Russia's full-scale invasion began, calling it an "absolutely crazy situation."

Weeda said she found herself explaining one of Europe's largest countries to Dutch readers precisely as war was breaking out there, a timing she described as surreal given how little attention Ukraine had previously received in much of Western Europe before the invasion.

Her work has focused on bridging the gap between her Ukrainian heritage and Dutch audiences largely unfamiliar with the country's history and culture, a task that took on new urgency once the war began dominating international headlines. Weeda's perspective offers a personal lens on how perceptions of Ukraine shifted rapidly once the conflict started.

The writer's account reflects a broader experience shared by many members of the Ukrainian diaspora, who found themselves suddenly called upon to explain their home country's history, politics, and culture to audiences abroad as the war drew global attention.

Weeda's reflections underscore how personal and professional circumstances can collide with major geopolitical events, with her own writing career becoming intertwined with the story of a war that reshaped how Ukraine is perceived internationally.