Guest Column by Bob McConnell: Time is of the Essence to Help Ukraine

The Russians are in trouble, and they know it. The mighty Russian military has reached out to China for help, and they are recruiting Syrians to come fight in Ukraine. They seem to be running out of time, ammunition, and manpower. Reports of low morale, dissension between commanders, mutiny on at least one vessel, desertion – all within the first two weeks!

We must see that Ukraine can take advantage of the Russian miscalculations and failures.

The West, led by the United States must accelerate and expand its support for Ukraine on a scale and with a sense of genuine urgency – think Berlin Airlift (June 1948-May 1949).

Ukraine – the people of Ukraine – need weapons and ammunition to destroy the rockets, cruise missiles and long-range artillery that are causing most of the atrocities and damage to Ukrainian cities, the intelligence to locate those systems, and the ability to hit Russian Navy vessels which are launching cruise missiles into cities.

The time challenge for Russia is driven by the shortages mentioned and growing impact of sanctions and the increasing impact of the apparent growing resentment of Russia’s civil society. That challenge for Russia is also driven by the growth of Ukrainian military capability that will only get stronger if Ukraine has the weapons and ammunition it needs.

Ukraine is exhausting its stores as the fighting goes on, we must see that Ukraine has everything it needs. Ukraine is fighting its war of independence, but it is also fighting for western and our United States national security interests.

Russia is committing atrocities for all the world to see.

When has the United States used treaty boundaries to excuse standing on the sideline doing nothing while blatant atrocities are being committed? Whether Ukraine is a member of NATO or not is no longer relevant.

Ukraine is doing the fighting – their fighting and our fighting – we need to supercharge our effort to deliver to Ukraine what it needs – now.

A Copy of the text of my letter to my congressional representatives – House and Senate might be on interest.

Dear Congressman - - - -:

Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine should no longer be characterized as the “Ukraine crisis” or “War in Ukraine. This is beyond war; Russia is committing atrocities for the whole world to see.

And once the atrocities and war crimes began Putin changed the entire reality of the situation. NATO boundaries are no longer relevant. Such boundaries no longer apply. When does the “leader of the free world” stand by and allow atrocities?

Congress needs to demand we put an end to Putin’s barbarism by getting Ukraine everything it needs to defeat Putin – now!

Time is of the essence. The Russians are in trouble. Morale issues, ammunition issues, manpower issues, strategic failures. Now is the time to make certain Putin is defeated. Ukraine has set Russia up for defeat, but Ukraine needs the ammunition, the weapons, and the support – everything we can provide as fast as we can get it there and keep it coming.

If you have email addresses and/or phone numbers – use them - Washington needs to hear - Congress, the White House. The toll-free Capitol Switchboard (1-866-220-0044), call today.

Bob McConnell is Coordinator, External Relations U.S.-Ukraine Foundation’s Friends of Ukraine Network the views expressed here are his alone and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation or the Friends of Ukraine Network.

• Ukraine

• Russian invasion

• Vladimir Putin

• Ukraine military capability

• Russian atrocities

• NATO

• Friends of Ukraine Network

• military aid to Ukraine

• war crimes