A service member of Ukraine’s Armed Forces visits a memorial for fallen soldiers on Maidan Nezalezhnosti, (Independence Square), in Kyiv on October 1, 2024. (Andrew Kravchenko/Global Images Ukraine through Getty Images).
The staff of the Kyiv independent asks voters to reconsider why the Statue of Liberty is located on an island in New York Harbor.
It was given to the U.S. as a gift by the French people, whose support for the 13 colonies in their fight for independence over a century ago was crucial to their victory.
The future is uncertain, but not the past. The future depends on whether or not the U.S. falls into isolationism, like it did before it was eventually drawn into World War II, or if it leads the free world again.
As a Ukrainian publication in Kyiv we are far away from trying to tell U.S. citizens who to support during the election. It is the American people’s right to elect whoever they think fit to lead their nation.
We do ask that all of you who vote on Tuesday, consider Ukraine and take it into consideration when making your decision. We’re not just asking because we have a personal interest in the war. We ask this because we are responsible as people who are close to the war and understand what is at stake to warn the rest of world.
The history of the United States and the very foundations of the American nation serve as a reminder why Ukraine needs to get the support it needs to win the conflict, and why the U.S. must continue to lead the international effort to help Ukraine – no matter who is the White House.
Americans, who will either choose Donald Trump or Vice President Kamalah Harris as their next leader, should remember that Ukraine is fighting for freedom today in its standoff with an imperialist Russia just as America’s ancestors fought. Ukraine’s victory, with continued and hopefully stronger support from the U.S., and its allies will only strengthen America’s hand and global security.
To achieve a positive outcome for America, Ukraine and all those who are committed to preserving the international rules-based system, it is crucial that the U.S. Congress maintains strong bipartisan support.
We live in precarious time. First since Adolf Hitler’s reign, Russian President Vladimir Putin has waged the largest war on the ground in continental Europe. He is threatening to annihilate a nation and a people.
The global leadership of the United States is under threat in Ukraine and elsewhere by Russia and members of an “axis for evil” that includes North Korea and Iran. Iran has also provided military assistance to the Kremlin. China has been vital in keeping Russia’s economy afloat and its military production on track.
The lessons from World War II show that the best way to avoid a bigger global standoff – perhaps World War III – is not by appeasing dictators out of fear of a wider conflict, but by stopping them prior to the war escalating into a worldwide conflict.
The best way to prevent this escalation is to provide more weapons to Ukraine in order to help it defeat Russia decisively.
Americans should also be aware that supporting Ukraine is morally responsible, given that the war in Russia is genocidal. Its goal is to destroy Ukraine as a country, erasing its history, culture, and democracy. Russia has even gone so far as to steal Ukrainian children, a crime that prompted the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant against President Putin.
Stopping these atrocities shouldn’t be a political debate. The only issue that should be debated is how to stop such atrocities.
It is impossible to have Russia occupying more Ukrainian territory, or to drop support for Ukraine’s defence so that it will be forced into a “ceasefire”, or pseudo-peace, agreement. The obvious solution would be for Russia to lose its war. Ukraine must win. This would be an example to other oppressive and hostile regimes. Will China attempt to militarily seize Taiwan if it sees Moscow lose with massive costs and losses against a smaller enemy backed by the West. It’s hard to say. But it is likely that they will think twice.
The solution is clear: Ukraine needs enough weapons to win. This includes the capabilities that President Volodymyr Zelensky has requested. This includes giving Ukraine drones and missiles to carry out long-range, deep attacks on the war machine of Russia. Their invading forces continue bombarding cities and towns in Ukraine every day, killing and injuring innocent civilians.
The weapons provided by the U.S., and Kyiv’s Western allies, are not free. They not only power the defense industries of donor countries and create jobs, they also allow Ukraine’s partners to prepare for new types of warfare and be ready to repel future threats.
The future of warfare has been changed by Russia’s war on Ukraine and the asymmetrical tactics used by Ukraine’s outmanned, outgunned and outmanned forces to remain in the fight. Drones that cost only thousands of dollars are used to destroy conventional weapons, including tanks, that cost millions. They can be operated by troops under cover or by artificial intelligence algorithms.
Defense industries and NATO member countries are donating stockpiles of weapons from the past to Ukraine, knowing that they will learn with Kyiv how to produce future weaponry that is key to deterring China or if a trans-Pacific conflict erupts, to standoff against China.
The odds of this happening are reduced if Ukraine receives the equipment needed to defeat Russia.
The U.S. public can bring this day closer. Every day, they can do it by demanding that their government support Ukraine’s victory. They can do it on Tuesday by voting for the person they think will help Ukraine win the battle.
We understand that domestic concerns are a top priority for many voters. We urge them to give the issue of Russia’s threats to the world and the moral duty of the U.S. to stop it the gravitas it deserves.
When the U.S. wins the war, it could symbolically cement its position as leader of the free-world by giving Ukraine its own Statue Of Liberty — just like it was given to their ancestors after they won their battle.
The Kyiv Independent, an award-winning English language media outlet, offers on-the ground reporting from Ukraine. The publication has been recognized internationally for its coverage of Russia’s full-scale invasion in Ukraine.
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