America must not abandon Ukraine. Congressional Republicans who are blocking President Joe Biden’s request for another $61 billion in aid to Kyiv are making a deeply dangerous mistake.
If, as a nation, we are serious about advancing democracy, then repelling Russia’s invasion of a peaceful neighbor is a moral imperative. But the stakes are far greater than that. Defending our friends and deterring our enemies is in our own national interest.
“Giving us money or giving us weapons, you support yourself,” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Economist. “You save your children, not ours.”
“This is not just some altruistic project,” agrees Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader. “This passes every cold, hard, realistic calculation with flying colors. It’s the right move for American taxpayers, for American service members, for our allies and partners. ... Our investment in Ukraine is restoring and rebuilding deterrence for pennies on the dollar.”
And yet congressional Republicans have decided to defy McConnell and play politics with this issue. They look at polls that document fatigue — one-third of voters and half of Republicans tell Pew that America is giving “too much” support to Ukraine — and see an opening to make mischief. GOP leaders in the House won’t even schedule a vote on Biden’s request until Democrats agree to major changes in immigration policy.
Immigration is a highly volatile and complex issue, which is why no reforms have been enacted in almost 40 years, so it’s profoundly irresponsible for Republicans to tie together the two issues. But Biden and his congressional allies are realists, they know the stakes and they are willing to negotiate reasonable restrictions that risk the wrath of pro-immigration forces in their own party in order to support Kyiv.
Negotiating in good faith?
“I’ll take it however they can pass it,” admits Biden’s budget chief Shalanda Young. “I mean, beggars shouldn’t be choosing.”
There are growing doubts, however, that Republicans are negotiating in good faith. Biden is vulnerable on the border issue, and some of his rivals refuse to make any deal that would help him out in an election year.
But getting to yes is absolutely essential. The long-term cost of failure would be far higher than any short-term bill for aiding Ukraine now.
“If Putin is not defeated in Ukraine, neighboring NATO countries will fall under threat,” warns Halyna Yanchenko, a member of Ukraine’s parliament, in a blog post for the Kennan Institute. “In that event, the costs to the United States would be expected to be much higher, and NATO troops, including American soldiers, could be forced to defend European soil.”
Yanchenko continued: “The U.S. Congress must answer the question: Is it preferable to provide assistance now or to send American soldiers — minimally as peacekeepers, potentially as fighting forces — to Europe later? Which choice would better promote U.S. geopolitical interests and national security?”
Vladimir Putin is not the only foreign leader closely watching Congress. Our European allies are, too. “It is imperative that the alliance remains unified, and all members continue to move military assistance to Ukraine at this critical moment, including the United States, Slovakia, Poland, the rest of NATO, and other allies and partners,” argues the Center for American Progress.
Leaders in Beijing are paying close attention as well, adds the Center, a liberal think tank: “Any perceived inconsistency in U.S. support for Ukraine risks emboldening China for its far-reaching territorial ambitions, notably in Taiwan.”
Another argument in favor of aid does not get enough attention. Yes, $61 billion is a lot of money, but much of it will be spent here in the United States, buying American weapons, hiring American workers and revitalizing American communities.
“Despite claims to the contrary, the United States is not sending bags of unaccounted-for cash to Ukraine,” writes the German Marshall Fund. “Most U.S. contributions go to military aid, including weapons and equipment made by American defense contractors who employ communities across the country.”
Young warns that Ukraine’s situation is “dire.” But so is ours. If Russia wins this war, all of us — freedom-loving people everywhere — will pay a very heavy price.
Steven Roberts teaches politics and journalism at George Washington University.
The Sun-Times welcomes letters to the editor and op-eds. See our guidelines.
The views and opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Chicago Sun-Times or any of its affiliates.
