Our world is changing. It's changing in ways that I no longer want to tell you with cartoon characters and comedy strips. Ironically, it's changing because of issues that have been with us for many centuries; issues which we haven't been able to solve yet for whatever reason. I share the frustration with many young people right now that the priorities of world leaders are to cause conflict and take sides for their own purposes, instead of working together for permanent solutions. I also share great empathy for those who have had loved ones and dear friends impacted due to these decisions and the circumstances they create for innocent people.

It has not felt the same for me since the broader Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February. It has not felt the same knowing that the Russian government has not changed anything about its geopolitical strategy and the impositions it creates on its people since the days of the Soviet Union. It has not felt the same to log in to social media each day and constantly be reminded of how much people can hate each other because of where they come from or what their government is telling them. I have reminded my friends to not make this mistake, but as the Countries comic is expected to address the conflict with the Russia character, I feel like I would make it myself if I kept things going as they are.

Politics are more important to us now than they have been in a long time. It's a topic that demands attention, but also great caution. If Countries makes a statement with one of its characters, it's going to be an increasingly unwelcome generalization of a very complicated issue. I do not want to portray any country in an extremely negative and dramatic tone, but I don't want to ignore the reality of these violent topics and with whom the responsibility lays. As much as there are Russian soldiers committing atrocities in Ukraine, and being sentenced to life in prison in war crimes trials, there are Russian citizens protesting who fearlessly defend their right to be involved in the country's decision making and leadership in order to end the cycle of war.

The Russia character has been featured in all forms of the comic in major ways up to this point. I am not Russian, but I will defend the prospect of a democratic Russia in any scenario, and I take the advice and opinions of those who are affected by the war in Ukraine very strongly. The best way for me to do this is to treat each person as their own, and abandon anything that will inherently present the people as something they are not. I know there is humanity somewhere to find in all of these circumstances, and I don't want to keep working on something that holds me back, or has the unintended effect of telling me and other people there isn't.

There are political issues that are important to all of us right now. It's incredibly immature to judge anyone based on nationality, and I would be hypocritical saying this while attempting to simplify the issues we are all facing. We have to protect those we love and the issues we care about, and I don't want to seem careless by trying to work a joke into a tragedy. All of these things are why I'm deciding to end the Countries series; there will not be any new material for the foreseeable future. The last two pieces of Countries media will be the upcoming 4K remasters of the two animated shorts, "Countries" and "Countries - VOYNA."

This is something difficult to accept for me and my friends at the moment, because these shorts represented some of our best accomplishments in creating high-quality animated content as a young and independent group on the internet. But I firmly believe that retiring Countries, dropping a focus on political content, and supporting my friends with their own projects is the best option going forward. I hope that our fans, readers and viewers will understand this decision.

Last but not least, I thank you all so much for your everlasting support and friendship over the years. I sincerely wish you the best and for us to support each other for what we want to do in the future.

- SGWaS