The failure of the US Congress to pass an aid package for Ukraine constitutes a reckless strategy apparently aimed at forcing imaginary peace negotiations with Russia. Where are the moral people in Congress, and when will they realize that arming Ukraine is the only realistic path to peace?
The current impasse over aid to Ukraine has sparked an escalation of terrorism by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Beginning on December 29, Putin ordered missile strikes on Ukrainian cities that killed or wounded 600 civilians. This strategy comes from Hitler's playbook when he ordered a bombing campaign against British cities in 1940.
Peace with Russia seems morally puzzling, but it is simply a trap set by Putin to fool gullible members of Congress. Putin and Hitler's goals are aligned with genocide and imperialist conquests, not peace.
In 2005, the President of Chechnya (Aslan Maskhadov) was assassinated while participating in peace negotiations with Russia aimed at ending the Second Chechen War. Later, Putin awarded medals to the assassination masterminds.
Russia has never respected the peace agreements it concluded with Ukraine, including the Budapest Memorandum.
Blame for blocking vital aid to Ukraine falls primarily on the Republican far right. the site Republicans for Ukraine, lists 82 House Republicans rated as particularly bad for their support of Ukraine. These are usually the “America First” isolationists who lead the opposition against funding for Ukraine.
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Trump rejects Ukraine aid bill that Senate leaders call 'urgent priority' – Ukraine War Update for January 26
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On the surface, putting Americans first sounds very attractive. But in this case, reducing aid to Ukraine would drain Ukrainian weapons and impose a false peace settlement with Russia.
The cessation of hostilities is a ploy that buys Russia time to rebuild its forces and attack Ukraine later with greater atrocities. Russia and its propagandists openly state that their goal is to exterminate Ukraine's population of 40 million. Unless Putin is stopped now, Americans must prepare themselves for the reality of eventual conscription into military service.
This is not the first time an America First movement has had a disastrous foreign policy impact on Europe. In the early 1940s, the powerful American First Committee (AFC) advocated peace with Germany while opposing military and humanitarian aid to Britain. The AFC was dissolved in disgrace after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and Germany declared war against America.
When it comes to global conflict, an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure. World War II cost nearly $4 trillion and the lives of 330,000 American soldiers. Eighty-one years after America said “never again,” Congress is complicit in Russia's campaign of genocide.
George Washington said in his future wisdom: “One day there will be a United States of Europe.” Washington realized that if the remnants of democracy were exported to Europe, it would lead to a more stable, peaceful, and prosperous world. This not only benefits Ukraine, but the rising tide of global democracy also benefits America.
The most influential opponents of Ukrainian aid are promoting false narratives that financing Ukraine is a wasteful scheme. This is just political showmanship given that military aid to Ukraine represents only 3% of the defense budget. Most of the money stays in America, further reducing the cost.
Supporters of the “America First” slogan avoid the United States' involvement in permanent European alliances and conflicts, as stated in Washington's farewell speech. But Washington has made exceptions for some short-term emergencies.
In comparison, Ukraine is fighting Russia for a pittance from America and its allies. Ukrainian soldiers use these funds to contain Russian forces in Ukraine, preventing thousands of Americans from dying defending NATO territory.
The United States has pledged $75 billion in economic and military aid to Ukraine, representing just 0.19% of GDP. Fifteen other countries actually spent more than that as a proportion of their GDP.
While Congress objects to this small amount, the Russian military-industrial complex is in a state of all-out war aimed at a future invasion of NATO countries.
By abandoning Ukraine, Congress is putting American soldiers at risk of fighting and defending NATO territory from Russia.
Congressional maneuvers to sabotage aid to Ukraine are futile, if extremely dangerous. While Congress plays games, Putin plans to rebuild his Soviet/Russian empire. If Ukraine falters, Putin's appetite to invade Moldova and NATO's Baltic states will increase dramatically.
Congress must pass additional funding for Ukraine to prevent Russian aggression from spreading into global chaos and harming American interests.
The opinions expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Kyiv Post.
