On the 24th of February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, reigniting the Russo-Ukrainian war which started in 2014. This war between Russia and Ukraine has been going on for longer than three years. The U.S. has been providing crucial military support to Ukraine since early 2022, equipping their troops with HIMARS rocket systems, missiles, tanks, drones, and more. The U.S. has also been instrumental in providing refugee aid and rebuilding infrastructure. The situation in Ukraine is urgent, and our support is needed now more than ever.
However, even with the help from not only the U.S. but NATO as well, Ukraine is still struggling to hold off Russian advances and maintain control over key territories.
On March 3rd, in a heated meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President Trump ordered an indefinite pause on all U.S. military aid to Ukraine. According to the New York Times, this order affects more than $1 billion in arms and ammunition.
Trump said that the directive would be in effect until he determined that Ukraine had demonstrated a good-faith commitment to peace negotiations with Russia.
This decision negatively affects Ukraine since Russia can use this pause to make a significant offensive move, and the soldiers in Ukraine would not have the resources to stop it.
Perhaps, this is Trump’s goal. He has been continuously saying he will end the war between Russia and Ukraine at any cost. He has also clearly shown that he considers Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, a friend, through sources such as CNBC’s Squawk Box Europe interview, where Trump says him and Putin have a “really, really good relationship.”
I think the U.S. should keep providing military support to Ukraine. Without it, Ukraine stands a slim chance. It is very unfair to them since their country was unjustly invaded.
Ukraine has long been a friend of the U.S., and their relationship has strengthened over time. However, seeing how a strong relationship can be so easily tarnished is disappointing.
On March 3rd, President Zelenskyy came to the meeting with Trump to ask for help, as thousands of his people die every day. Instead of a positive and supportive meeting, which would have ideally ended with the continuation of military aid, Mr. Zelenskyy was met with hostility and judgment.
Rather than using valuable time to discuss all aspects of the war, the vice president wasted it by shaming Zelenskyy for his choice of outfit. “Do you own a suit,” he rudely asked.
Ukraine needs help now, and cutting off its funds is setting it up for failure. The military aid the U.S. has been providing has been the ‘backbone’ of the war all along, significantly bolstering Ukraine’s defense. Without it, Ukraine may have to turn to other countries for support. However, even the combined resources that NATO can provide may not be enough to help Ukraine end this war. Our support is crucial, and its impact on the war in Ukraine cannot be overstated.
Even with the help provided by the U.S. and NATO to Ukraine, according to CFR, there are 14.6 million people in Ukraine who need humanitarian assistance. Hospitals and residential complexes have been violently bombed by the Russian forces, limiting help for those in need.
As an ally of Ukraine, we need to maintain and upkeep that relationship by continuing to provide military aid to those fighting for their country, which was unjustly invaded. We would want our friends to support us during challenging times, and now, it’s our turn to stand by Ukraine. The importance of this relationship cannot be understated, and we must do everything in our power to support Ukraine in this difficult time.
As of the week of March 23, the Trump administration has lifted its suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine. Additionally, Ukraine signaled that it was open to a 30-day ceasefire, pending Moscow’s agreement. Both U.S and Russian officials are expected to release a joint statement on Tuesday about a 30-day ceasefire. However, given the turbulent nature of these relationships, only time will tell how this crisis will be resolved.
