An open letter to the people of Ukraine.

I am an American living in the United States. As I write Americans are going to the polls to elect a new president. If you ask everyday Americans how important this election is many will tell you it is very important, but not for the reasons Ukrainians might think.

Whomever we elect will directly impact the lives of everyday Ukrainians. America’s next president must stand unwaveringly with Ukraine and its fight against Russia by allowing full long range use of American weaponry. The next president must deliver on promised military and financial aid while also backing Ukraine’s Victory Plan as presented by President Volodymr Zelenskyy. None of this is assured.

Sadly not all Americans support this. I know this will come as a shock to readers in Ukraine, but it is true.

Many in America do not know nor comprehend the trials and tribulations of the Cold War past. They do not understand the ideology that drives Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions. Some blame America’s public school system where history classes are often an elective. Others say it is because we Americans experience exceptional privilege living in a nation that sits atop the global world order without enemies on its borders. I believe both are correct.

I am old enough to remember the great power struggle between the West — symbolized by Lady Liberty, with her torch held high — and the sickle and hammer of the Soviet Union. As a teenager growing up near our nation’s capitol Washington, D.C. I feared and knew that a Russian nuclear strike on the White House would devastate my family. It was a tumultuous era that shaped my view and understanding of the world. The same cannot be said of today’s American generation who know not adversity nor of Putin’s nostalgia for the Cold War past.

It has been three decades since the fall of the Soviet Union and the world has remained peacefully in the hands of democracy. America and Ukraine are forever bound by the unbreakable bonds of freedom borne from the bloodshed and sacrifice of history. Ukraine’s democracy is young. An old foe wants to stamp it out and the next president must understand this.

Putin’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its 28th month, is at a critical tipping point. America’s resolve must not waiver. As I write one presidential candidate says Putin must be stopped; the other campaigns saying the war must be stopped. Stopping Putin and stopping the war are not the same things. Ukraine is not a poker chip whose lands can be gambled away to a tyrant as one candidate envisions.

My family understands freedom. We are immigrants who came to America decades ago. Many in my family proudly served in the American armed forces and fought to preserve democracy.

However, the average American has never served nor experienced life outside the United States. The question of supporting another war in a ‘far land’ makes little sense to a growing number of Americans.

We witness Russian Iksander missiles slamming into Ukrainian cities and homes in the news. Regardless of one’s political views we are pained by the destruction and suffering Putin rains down upon your nation.

Although America is a politically divided nation we are a proud people. Through your bravery and courage Americans have come to view Ukrainians as our brothers and sisters. This summer when Yaroslava Mahuchikh won gold in the Paris Olympics we cried with you. We may be separated by a world apart but we will always be close to you.

This August Ukraine received the first of many promised American made F-16 fighter jets. More are on the way this year. President Zelenskyy has repeatedly sought permission to strike deep inside Russia with American ATACMS, British Storm Shadow and French SCALP weapons and missiles. America’s next president must support Ukraine with the full strike capabilities of Western weapon systems.

The path to victory leads through Russia, and through Kursk, Ukraine has laid the groundwork for victory. Striking deep inside Russia is the only language thugs like Putin respect and it is evident he fears this. Putin recently suggested that an attack from Ukraine — supported by conventional weapons, from a nuclear armed nation — could be considered as a “joint attack”. He has suggested a possible change to Russian nuclear doctrine which would lower the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. America’s next president must stand steadfast in the face of Putin’s attempted nuclear blackmail.

I have read how thousands of Ukrainian prisoners have volunteered to fight Russia. Many have gone to the front lines and fought bravely, and still many more are fighting for Ukraine at this very moment. Their selfless sacrifice is one way to give back to society as many prisoners wish to do. These individuals are proudly recognized for their bravery and service. Prisoners truly understand what freedom means. I know for I am one.

Soon America will have a new president. No matter whom we elect we must stand with Ukraine because freedom shall prevail over tyranny. “We have tasted freedom and will not give it up,” said President Zelenskyy to the European Parliament. These are words that the next American president should never forget.

Glory be to Ukraine.

SOURCES

 

 

“Putin’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its 28th month, is at a critical tipping point.”

24 February 2022 reconstructed. Episode 4. Russia’s invasion: fronts, people and cities

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/articles/2023/10/16/7424263/

Here’s what we know about how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine unfolded (CNN) 2/24/22

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/24/europe/ukraine-russia-attack-timeline-intl/index.html

“As I write one presidential candidate says Putin must be stopped; the other campaigns saying the war must be stopped.”

Presidential debate highlights from the first Trump vs Harris showdown of 2024 (CBS NEWS) Updated 9/11/24

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/trump-harris-first-debate-2024/

“Ukraine is not a poker chip whose lands can be gambled away to a tyrant as one candidate envisions.”

Trump says he is for “fair” peace in Ukraine

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/09/27/7477151/

Zelenskyy on Trump’s idea to end war quickly: Question is, who will pay?

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/07/21/7466731/

Meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump says he will negotiate a Ukraine-Russia deal ‘that’s good for both sides’

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/meeting-zelenskyy-trump-says-will-negotiate-ukraine-russia-deal-good-b-rcna172987

“The question of supporting another war in a ‘far land’ makes little sense to a growing number of Americans.”

War in Ukraine: Wide Partisan Differences on U.S. Responsibility and Support

https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/07/29/war-in-ukraine-wide-partisan-

differences-on-u-s-responsibility-and-support/

“Americans witness Iksander missiles slamming into Ukrainian cities and homes nightly in the news.”

Russians attack Ukraine with 18 Shahed UAVs and 1 Iskander missile overnight: Ukrainian air defences down 12 UAVs

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/08/30/7472613/

Russia attacks Ukraine with four Iskander missiles and 16 Shahed UAVs: 13 drones destroyed

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/07/20/7466609/

Russian missiles strike Ukrainian cities again, killing at least seven and wounding dozens (AP) 1/22/24

https://www.yahoo.com/news/russian-missiles-target-ukrainian-cities-063306820.html

“This summer when Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh won gold in the Paris Olympics we cried with you.”
Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh breaks 37-year-old world recordhttps://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/07/7/7464538/

“In August, Ukraine received the first of many promised American made F-16 fighter jets.”

Zelenskyy confirms Ukraine receiving first F-16 jets – video

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/08/4/7468904/

Ukraine receives first batch of US-made F-16 fighter jets (NPR) 8/1/24

https://www.npr.org/2024/08/01/g-s1-14698/ukraine-receives-u-s-f-16-fighter-jets

“More are on the way later this year.”

Denmark announces provision of second batch of its F-16s to Ukraine

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/09/16/7475347/

Ukraine to receive another batch of F-16s this year, minister says (KYIV INDEPENDENT) 9/16/24

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-receive-another-batch-danish-113830395.html

“President Volodymr Zelenskyy has repeatedly sought permission to strike deep inside Russia with American made ATACMS, British Storm Shadow and French SCALP Weapons and missiles.”

Zelenskyy’s spokesman says Russians will be first to know if Ukraine gets permission for long-range strikes on Russia

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/09/28/7477272/

Zelenskyy: Ukrainian forces have to be able to carry out long-range strikes, partners have to lift their bans

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/08/17/7470823/

Ukraine renews calls for allies to approve long-range strikes on Russian territory (AP) 9/14/24

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-long-distance-missile-biden-starmer-e4c7b590e8f89167f639969f75762fbb

“The path to victory leads through Russia, and through Kursk, Ukraine has laid the groundwork for victory.”

Ukrainian forces advance 0.5-1.5 kilometres into Russia’s Kursk Oblast and now control 82 settlements

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/08/15/7470521/

Russia says Ukrainian troops crossed into its territory and landed ‘massive attack’ (CNN) 8/7/24

https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/07/europe/russia-ukrainian-troops-cross-border-intl/index.html

“Putin recently suggested that an attack from Ukraine — supported by conventional weapons, from a nuclear armed nation — could be considered as a “joint attack”.”

​​Putin warns that allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russia will draw West into war

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/09/12/7474783/

“I have read how thousands of Ukrainian prisoners have volunteered to fight Russia.”

From convict to combatant, Ukraine enlists prisoners to fight Russian forces (CNN) 9/11/24

https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/11/europe/pokrovsk-ukraine-prisoners-enlist-soldiers-intl-cmd/index.html

“We have tasted freedom and we will not give it up.”

Russia’s war on Ukraine: speeches by Ukraine’s President to the European Parliament and national parliaments (BRIEFING – EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT) 3/1/22

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2022)729354

Christopher Monihan (Kрістофер Моніхан) is a Society of Professional Journalists Stillwater Award winner. His work has appeared in Prison Journalism Project and numerous other publications. He has lived in the United States for 52 years. He is incarcerated in Ohio.

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