Reason 1: It is morally the right thing to do
Anyone with a moral compass that has not been broken by propaganda must realize that supporting Ukraine is simply the right thing to do. To witness Russian genocide and do nothing is a sign of moral bankruptcy.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who stood up to Hitler in Nazi Germany, once said: “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
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The reason the entire civilized world stands with Ukraine is, first and foremost, because it has a moral obligation so to do. When an aggressor attacks a victim, those who hold positive ethical values defend the victim.
Even if there was no other reason to support Ukraine, this one alone would surely be enough. We must support and stand with Ukraine because it is the right and moral thing to do.
Reason 2: The fight for freedom
Ukraine is fighting for its freedom; some would say its very existence. The civilized world consists of free and independent countries – that’s what makes our world civilized.
The Founding Fathers of the US declared liberty and freedom were core American values. These principles define the civilized world, and they are exactly what Ukrainians are fighting for – their ongoing freedom.
The age of slavery and colonization is over. If this status quo is broken, all bets are off – any country could attack another in an attempt to colonize it. We cannot allow this to happen. That is why we must stand with Ukraine against this barbaric Russian aggression.
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Reason 3: Taking a stand against tyranny and dictatorship
The fight against Russia is a fight against tyranny and dictatorship, a country that has been ruled by the same despot for more than 20 years, and under which its people have largely become complacent under his dictatorial rule.
Ukrainians, on the other hand, are free people. While the world admires its President Volodymyr Zelensky, most Ukrainians do not idolize him. They would have no issue electing a different leader in the next democratic elections.
This is, at its core, a battle between democracy and dictatorship. Vladimir Putin’s fatal mistake was “sending slaves to liberate free people.” In punishing Russia’s imperialistic and dictatorial ambitions, we can deter future attempts by other authoritarian regimes, whether in China, Iran, or North Korea.
Reason 4: Stopping Putin’s genocide
Russia has been explicit about its goal in this war - the elimination of Ukraine. Timothy Snyder, a distinguished historian at Yale University, has meticulously documented the evidence of Russia’s ongoing genocide.
The Russian state news agency RIA Novosti even published a manifesto outlining a plan for the complete eradication of the Ukrainian nation that was essentially an open call for genocide - something even 𝖧𝗂𝗍𝗅𝖾𝗋 never did.
This, in the context of well-documented atrocities, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed against the Ukrainian people, leaves no room for doubt.
After World War II, the US and European nations promised “Never Again” as a solemn vow against the repetition of genocide and atrocities committed by Germany’s 𝖭𝖺𝗓𝗂 regime. Today, history is repeating itself – this time by a new fascist ideology, “Ruscism,” which is attempting to erase Ukraine as a nation.
Right now, in its finest hour, Ukraine is defending the West from Ruscism. The West and the US must stand with Ukraine in this fight. Otherwise, “Never Again” will become a hollow and shameful reminder that, even after the horrors of 𝖧𝗂𝗍𝗅𝖾𝗋, we have learned nothing.
Reason 5: The prevention of terrorism
We remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001, when four coordinated terrorist attacks were carried out by al-Qaeda, an Islamist terrorist group, against the US – destroying the World Trade Center, partially damaging the Pentagon, and claiming the lives of 2,977 people.
It was an act of pure evil – an attack designed to kill civilians and demoralize the American people.
Today, Russia is doing the same thing. It is deliberately targeting civilians, destroying civilian infrastructure, and committing war crimes with the intent of demoralizing Ukrainians and dismantling their way of life.
The European Parliament adopted a resolution recognizing Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism and a state that “uses means of terrorism.” The resolution passed with an overwhelming 494 votes in favor, with only 58 against and 44 abstentions. Many other countries have adopted similar resolutions. Simply put, Russia is a terrorist state.
The only difference between al-Qaeda’s attack on the US and Russia’s attack on Ukraine is the scale and level of atrocities. Russia has killed tens of thousands and committed war crimes that rival those of 𝖭𝖺𝗓𝗂 Germany.
If this terrorism goes unpunished, it will embolden future acts of terror. We, the citizens of the free world, cannot allow that to happen.
Reason 6: Correcting the failure of the “Budapest Memorandum”
In 1994, Ukraine agreed to relinquish its nuclear arsenal – at the time the world’s third largest - under the auspices of the Budapest Memorandum in return for which, the US, the UK, and Russia gave assurances they would safeguard Ukraine’s future security.
Ukraine dismantled its fleet of long-range strategic bombers with US assistance, relinquished over 1,000 nuclear-capable cruise missiles, and handed over its nuclear warheads.
Russia has blatantly violated this agreement, along with dozens of others. The very same missiles that Ukraine surrendered to Russia are now being used against Ukraine.
While the US and the UK have not violated their commitments, they bear a moral obligation to support Ukraine after facilitating its disarmament.
As Steven Pifer, a US diplomat who participated in the negotiations leading to the Budapest Memorandum, stated: “There is an obligation on the United States that flows from the Budapest Memorandum to provide assistance to Ukraine, and […] that would include lethal military assistance.”
Reason 7: Strengthening the NATO alliance.
Russia’s war against Ukraine has strengthened NATO more than any previous efforts by the US. All existing allies within the Washington-led alliance have significantly increased their military spending and the previously neutral countries of Finland and Sweden have joined NATO, further reinforcing the alliance.
Ukraine itself could be a valuable asset to NATO. Unlike many current alliance members, Ukraine not only meets but exceeds NATO’s recommended minimum defense spending level of 2% of GDP.
Ukraine has successfully used the large quantities of NATO weapons, in effect allowing Western producers to test and refine their weapon systems in real combat conditions. Ongoing support from NATO countries has brought and equipped Kyiv’s military to NATO standards.
Despite Moscow’s propaganda that claims that NATO provoked its attacks on Ukraine, the reality is quite the opposite.
Until 2013, various polls showed only about 20–30% of Ukrainians supported joining NATO. After Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, that number rose to over 50%. In the most recent polls, as the war Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion provoked continues, close to 90% of Ukrainians expressed their desire for Ukraine to join NATO. A simple cause-and-effect analysis makes it clear: Russia’s aggression has pushed Ukrainians toward NATO, not the other way around.
Reason 8: Return on investment
In the past three years, NATO countries have allocated approximately 4% of their annual military budgets to support and arm Ukraine. While NATO’s primary adversary - the Russian military - has suffered devastating losses.
Russia’s combat capacity has been significantly degraded, with (many) more than 500,000 troops lost, 10,000 tanks, 21,000 armored personnel vehicles, 24,000 artillery systems, 700 aircraft and helicopters, and thousands of missiles destroyed. These staggering losses represent an extraordinary return on investment for NATO.
If you ran a company where, by investing just 4% of your annual budget you could cripple your biggest competitor – wouldn’t you do it? The answer is obvious.
Contrary to critics of military assistance to Ukraine, this has been one of the most effective uses of US and NATO defense budgets – it has debilitated a major adversary without risking the life of a single Western soldier.
Reason 9: Investments in the US defense industry
A common argument among Americans is that instead of sending military equipment to Ukraine, the US government should provide increased investment for its defense industry. But that is exactly what has been happening.
When the US sends HIMARS, NASAMS, Patriots, or other military equipment to Ukraine, it is weapons producers who benefit. These supplies generate orders to replace the equipment, keeping US defense manufacturers busy and strengthening the country’s military-industrial base.
The effectiveness of many US weapons in Ukraine has driven global demand for those systems. For example, Lithuania signed a $500 million deal to purchase HIMARS - half of its annual military budget — and Poland signed a similar deal for $4 billion worth.
By supplying military equipment to Ukraine, the US has invested billions of dollars in its defense industry and boosted worldwide demand for US-made weapons, which will support these companies for decades to come.
Reason 10: Preventing a nuclear arms race
From the very beginning of the war, Russia has engaged in nuclear blackmail against Ukraine, the US, and the entire world. Dozens of Russian state TV propagandists have repeatedly threatened to turn anyone who stands against Russia into “radioactive dust.”
But can the Kremlin deliver on this threat?
The war in Ukraine has exposed its armed forces as a paper tiger. Once praised as the “second-best army in the world,” it was exposed as incompetent criminals who were adept at stealing washing machines.
Given how ineffective and dysfunctional the Russian military has proven to be, it’s likely that its nuclear capabilities are in a similarly degraded state.
However, the more critical issue is that nuclear blackmail must never be rewarded. Let me put it bluntly: the moment we give in to nuclear threats, we are finished as a civilized world. If Russia succeeds in using nuclear intimidation to seize territory, any nuclear-armed country will feel emboldened to do the same, and others will be encouraged to follow them.
This would trigger a global rush for nuclear weapons, as nations seek to defend themselves against future blackmail or give them the ability to inflict it on others. The only way to stop this madness is to punish Russia for its nuclear threats, ensuring that nuclear blackmail is never seen as a viable strategy.
Reason 11: Geopolitical benefits.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has significantly weakened the EU’s ties with both Russia and China while strengthening its relationship with the US – although post Trump that may be in doubt. Nevertheless, Russia’s political, military, and economic influence has certainly diminished — an important geopolitical victory that benefits the West.
One of the major geopolitical risks European countries previously faced was their dependence on Russia for energy. That risk has now been significantly reduced. EU nations have imposed caps on Russian oil and natural gas, while other suppliers – including the US – have stepped in to provide oil and liquefied natural gas to the European market.
This diversification of energy sources has greatly improved regional energy security and strengthened EU-US cooperation in this vital strategic area.
Reason 12: Global security.
A Ukrainian victory will do more for US and global security than almost any other policy - it will reshape the balance of power, making peace more likely for decades.
Russia is no longer a superpower — its military is depleted, its political influence weakened, and its economic ties severed. Defeating Russia will send a clear message: imperial aggression does not pay.
For example, a US-China war will become far less likely. After seeing how the West stood by Ukraine, China will think twice before attacking Taiwan.
Conversely, if Russia wins, the world will grow far more dangerous. It will prove that democracies can’t stand together, emboldening China and other authoritarian states to pursue their imperial ambitions.
The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.
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