The Importance of Political Perspectives in Relationships: How Do Differences Impact Long-Term Partnerships?

Hello, I’m a 26-year-old woman and I’ve been in a relationship with my partner, a 29-year-old man, for three years. I am from Ukraine, while he was born in Latvia; however, his family has roots in Eastern Ukraine but relocated to Latvia around thirty years ago. When the conflict began, not a single member of his family reached out to me. Although his best friend sent me a supportive message, he also expressed his belief that Russia's intentions were not to destroy Ukrainian cities, particularly the larger ones. I found it inappropriate for him to assert what Russia aims to do, especially since he is not directly impacted by the situation. Moreover, his best friend’s mother took to Facebook to express her pride in being Russian, boasting about the merits of her country. All of his friends reside in the Baltic states, speak Russian, and still visit Russia for vacation. Some have even unfollowed me on Instagram, as my posts about Ukraine don’t resonate with them. Additionally, he has shared screenshots from Ukrainian group chats with his friend for their amusement. He expressed disappointment over a t-shirt I wore that read “Russian warship, go f*** yourself,” which references a famous response from Ukrainian soldiers. This clash of perspectives is beginning to affect my sense of identity, and I sometimes feel like I am betraying my values. I’m uncomfortable around his friends, yet he insists I spend time with them. He shows little respect for my mother but happily shares meals with his friend’s proud Russian mother. During a visit to his family, his father stated that Kyiv would soon become part of Russia, and his brother occasionally reads Tolstoy. While this is acceptable in itself, it’s notable that he does not typically read much, and when he does, it’s exclusively Russian literature. I understand that people can coexist happily despite political differences, but this situation feels fundamentally wrong to me. What are your thoughts?