Askold Lozynskyj
This plea is to all Americans regardless of party affiliation. It is addressed to people who simply care about other human beings, not only their immediate neighbours but people anywhere who are suffering because of human cruelty and aggression, even more so now, since their future is in greater peril each day.
For almost three years the people of Ukraine have been fighting fiercely against a brutal aggressor committing war crimes, abducting children, targeting maternity wards and indiscriminately executing civilians. In fact, the war has lasted more than ten years, but the situation has been most drastic over these three years.
The people in the regions of Russian immediate aggression and occupation are the most affected, but young and old are very much involved in the defence and in assisting their Ukrainian brethren. Children are being slaughtered in the western regions of Ukraine. The villages, towns and cities of Ukraine are strewn with new burial mounds as far west as the Ukrainian border with Poland.
There is a deep depression in Ukraine because of the uncertainty of America’s presidential election. It is palpable among the civilian population and also within the leadership and the military. As a result Russia has made advances in the Donbas region so that it now controls 20% of Ukraine. Russia has also recovered some of its lost territory in Russia where North Korean troops have taken on Russian uniforms.
Several days ago I had an interview with Ukrainian television in Ukraine. My two interlocutors were very professional but visibly very much upset and looking to me for comfort. The entire subject was the American presidential election. Their question was quite pointed, is there a chance that Trump will prevail. This was not a journalistic or even a political issue. Their faces said that they were concerned about survival. I was not able to provide that comfort.
I responded as best I could that the election was very close. I tried to encourage them by pointing out that early voting was very strong which is generally good for the Democratic ticket. I tried to explain the complex American electoral system and that seven states essentially held the balance of power. I noted also that I appreciated their concern as I had been in Ukraine only a month earlier and many asked me the same questions.
I did not want to offend or concern them even more by telling them that there were a few Ukrainian Americans who were supporting Trump. That would have been very unsettling. The people in Ukraine would never understand that as I find it very difficult to accept. In any event the focus of my response was that Ukraine will always exist because of its people and that the people of America will continue supporting Ukraine. Clearly, I was withholding bad information, but I simply could not face their despair.
And so I am using this final opportunity to turn to my fellow Americans with a plea – do not forsake Ukraine. The Harris-Walz ticket is the only guarantee of Ukraine’s survival. Trump
Vance would be not only a victory for Russia but the end of Ukraine and perhaps a free and democratic world in Eastern Europe. Most recently Trump stated in Michigan that had he been president in February 2022 he would never have gotten involved in Ukraine.
Ukraine and Ukrainians need us, America and Americans. The world we live in requires reciprocal assistance. That is why we have formed international structures, but so far they are evolving at a very slow pace. Ukraine is not in a position to save itself and Eastern Europe from the Russian scourge.
Russia’s strongman Vladimir Putin has on many occasions threatened World War 3 and the use of nuclear arms. That has to be a wake up, not a red line. Ukraine is the battleground today. If Ukraine is lost, the battleground will be the North Atlantic which will invariably involve NATO and the United States. There are at least two very sound reasons for helping Ukraine. The first and perhaps the more important is because that is the right thing to do. The second is a political strategy to prevent Russian aggression from spreading.
How many times do Trump and Vance have to repeat their message that they simply will step aside and let Russia and Putin do what they want. Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate have been very clear that they support the people of Ukraine.
I have been to Ukraine some ten times during this recent full scale war. I have been the recipient of words of gratitude from the people for the support of the American people. Most recently I have been on the receiving end of not only gratitude but tears and pleas. Every person in Ukraine who has approached me is very much afraid of a Trump presidency. How do I know? No I am not guessing. The people have expressed their fear in no uncertain terms.
Please listen to their pleas. Stop Russia! Help Ukraine! Stop Trump! Elect Kamala Harris President of the United States, Ukraine’s best friend!
November 2, 2024