President Trump has just announced that he will pause U.S. military aid to Ukraine, putting millions of lives at risk. Please join me in urging him to change course.
My name is Michele, and I live in Portland, Oregon, home to a large and vibrant Ukrainian community. I've had the privilege of working alongside Ukrainian refugees at my job — people who have not only rebuilt their lives here but also carry the weight of a war that still rages back home. I've listened to their heartbreaking stories of loved ones caught in the conflict and the painful uncertainty that comes with being forced to start over while their country fights for survival. For them, this war isn't just headlines — it's personal. And for all of us who believe in democracy and standing by our allies, it should be personal too.
The Ukrainian people have been fighting to retain their democracy after being invaded by Russia on February 24, 2022. With the help of their allies, Ukraine has so far been able to keep fighting, despite being vastly outnumbered.
The amount the US has provided in aid to Ukraine is estimated to be about 75 billion in direct assistance and 100 billion of indirect assistance such as military training, humanitarian aid, and equipment from US stockpiles allocated via Presidential Drawdown Authority.
Allies of the US are also contributing, many providing a higher percentage of their GDP. It is true that the United States has contributed the most; we also have much greater resources to provide aid than many of our allies.
However, our allies are now watching the US government attempt to go back on promises, and attempt to extort Ukraine for additional aid. Many are questioning their trust in our government.
This petition serves to remind US government elected officials that citizens of the United States support Ukraine in this war, and wish to continue supporting their efforts to defend their country against the Russian dictatorship, and preserve freedom and democracy for the Ukrainian people.
What we ask of the US government:
- To continue the current US sanctions against Russia, and to expand those sanctions as necessary to keep economic pressure on Russia
- To acknowledge that Russia bears full responsibility for the war and has committed war crimes against the Ukrainian people.
- To restart offensive cyberoperations against Russia that thwart their hacking and ransomware operations against critical US infrastructure.
- To work with our European allies to support Ukraine with military equipment and supplies, economic assistance, and humanitarian aid, including aid provided via USAID projects.
The United States was founded on principles of democracy, and its officials serve the people who elected them – not the president, not corporations, and not oligarchs. Together with our democratic allies we have until now been among the world's leading nations, but the path that we are on – abandoning our allies, abandoning our principles, will leave us isolated and vulnerable to the whims of those who would prefer to see our country destroyed.
The Ukrainian people deserve our continued support in this war. The cost of this Russian invasion has been high, but highest of all to the people of Ukraine and their country. We cannot abandon them, nor our other allies, in this fight.
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