The following is presented as part of The Columbian’s Opinion content, which offers a point of view in order to provoke thought and debate of civic issues. Opinions represent the viewpoint of the author. Unsigned editorials represent the consensus opinion of The Columbian’s editorial board, which operates independently of the news department.
It was a dramatic moment for U.S. involvement in the Ukraine war.
Nancy Pelosi, one day after a surprise meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, told the press in Poland: “America stands with Ukraine. We stand with Ukraine until victory is won.” For good measure, she added: “Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done.”
The House speaker used words the administration avoided for weeks when addressing Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine — notably “victory” and “win.” And even on the rare occasion when the win word was snuck in, the level of military aid didn’t match.
Coming so soon after President Joe Biden’s vital request to Congress for $33 billion in additional short- and long-term aid to Ukraine, those words now signify a deeper commitment. That terminology is welcome because it signifies that the Biden team finally recognizes Ukraine could win — if the right heavy weapons from the West arrive soon enough — and will back the country for the long haul.
Yet if Ukrainian “victory” is now the U.S. goal, Biden needs to clarify what a win would look like. He needs to better explain to Americans why such a win is vital for our country’s security — and for democracy worldwide.
A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows a big majority of Americans back sanctions on Russia and aid to Ukraine. But there are burbling currents in this country, often on the far-right, that buy Putin’s message that he is merely defending Russia against Ukrainian Nazi aggression.
Former President Donald Trump praised Putin’s “genius” at the beginning of the invasion. J.D. Vance, Trump’s choice for Republican Senate candidate in Ohio, tweeted in February: “I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine.” Cable news’ most popular talk show host, Tucker Carlson of Fox News, who has repeatedly dumped on Ukraine and Zelenskyy, claimed last week that U.S. support for Ukraine has nothing to do with helping Ukrainians. Instead, he said, that support represents Democratic efforts “to topple the Russian government” as “payback for the 2016 election.”
Given these counter currents and the fickleness of public opinion, one cannot take long-term U.S. public support for Ukraine for granted, especially as we approach the poisonous atmosphere of the 2022 midterms.
Here, then, are the points that I believe Biden must make clear to Americans:
This war is about Russian aggression, full stop, and Putin’s imperial ambition to control and/or annex Ukraine, which he believes is part of historic Russia.
If Putin gets away with seizing and keeping Ukrainian land, this changes all the rules that have kept the Western world safe since World War II. It means any country with sufficient weapons — especially nukes — can threaten its neighbors in order to seize parts or all of their land.
Ukraine’s goal is for Russian troops to withdraw from all territory seized after the Feb. 24 invasion. Then negotiations can begin.
Ukraine’s fight is our fight because Ukrainians are battling to avoid a takeover by a criminal dictator, in Europe, in the 21st century. If that doesn’t wake Americans out of their take-democracy-for-granted stupor, then shame on us.
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