Russia and Ukraine have been at war for eight years and two months over an issue regarding the old president of Ukraine being overthrown. Now it’s ongoing because Russia annexed Crimea, which is a land that is valuable to Ukraine. Russia then invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 without giving any prior warning.
It is time for the United States to take a stand. It is time to let President Vladimir Putin know that this unprovoked attack cannot be ignored and that actions have consequences.
An article for NBC News written by retired Army colonel and former member of the National Security Council Jeff McCausland explained that even though the Russia-Ukraine conflict is not in our territory, it should matter to Americans.
McCausland stated the reason why this invasion and war should matter: “Democracy is under attack.”
Over 30 years ago the Berlin Wall fell to the ground, actively ending World War II and the Soviet Union disappearing right along with it.
Ukraine is not strong enough to be handling an invasion on its own, especially when Russia has Belarus as an ally.
Ukraine is an ally. When an ally is in trouble, it would be within our mindset as humans to do anything possible to help keep them safe.
When we see our friends in danger, or countries being invaded, what would you do?
Would you rush in and help them against the enemy by providing soldiers and weapons? Or would you stand off to the side and let them handle it themselves?
Meredith Deliso from ABC News explained a statement made by President Joe Biden in her article, “This is more than just about Russia and Ukraine.”
And Biden is correct. This isn’t just about the invasion taking place in Ukraine or about any of the two countries.
Now, things are different. Ukraine is a country of its own, having its own military force as well as its own government. Putin isn’t happy with it.
According to an article from CNN the United States will be forced to go to war with Russia over Ukraine, and relations between China and Taiwan will also falter because Putin just gave China the chance to invade Taiwan. Why? Because Taiwan is considered to be Chinese territory, just like how Ukraine is considered to be Russian/Soviet territory.
Think about it. Who are the two countries in the world that have the biggest nuclear weapons right now? It’s not China, it’s not Taiwan and it sure isn’t Ukraine.
So that leaves the United States and Russia, and they would face off again in over 30 years if things escalate.
As you can see, Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine has damaged the U.S. too, even though Ukraine is taking the worst of it.
War is unavoidable. And now is not the time to leave an ally who is in desperate need of assistance.
