Opinion: America First Means Standing with Ukraine

Jack Elliott, Writer - NC

Pro-Ukraine Protest on the National Mall. Photo Credit: Jack Elliott.

On February 24th, 2022, just over four years ago, Putin’s Russia launched its brutal war against Ukraine. An aggressive war not just against the innocent people of Ukraine, but also against the West itself. 

Commemorating this grim anniversary, I had the opportunity to attend a protest on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial alongside hundreds of others standing in support of our brave ally in Eastern Europe. Among other prominent speakers, I had the pleasure of hearing from Pastor Mark Burns, a leader at the forefront of conservative support for Ukraine. Burns is among the most outspoken voices in favor of Ukraine among those close to President Donald Trump, serving as one of his top spiritual advisors. ​GW student Alexei Dziubynskyi also attended the rally. I asked him about his thoughts on the speech. He highlighted how important conservative support for Ukraine is: “Burns being here means so much, he represents for us [Ukrainian-Americans] that American patriots stand with the struggle of our home nation against evil.”

Burns’ support for Ukraine, a reversal of his previous support for pausing aid, comes after a personal visit to the nation. He had the opportunity to visit solemn sites like Bucha, where hundreds of Ukrainian civilians fell victim to inhuman atrocities at the hands of Russian occupiers. Events such as this, as well as the forcible kidnapping of up to 35,000 Ukrainian children by the Russian government, have turned many towards supporting the Ukrainian cause. Burns’ journey mirrors a wider trend in American conservatism.

Today, 62% of Republicans favor continued US military support for Ukraine, a number that has gradually been rising and continues to do so. The right is waking up to the moral abhorrence of Russia’s actions, actions that are fundamentally against the conservative philosophical ideals of just war and self-determination.

Despite this trend, there does remain a loud pro-Russian minority on the right. These voices often echo sentiments that make sense for conservatives, arguing that Russia is the most Christian country, or that it has a government that maintains “traditional values.” The truth of the matter is far different. While yes, Russia has one of the largest populations that self-identifies as Christian, this does not mean that conservative values are upheld by it. For instance, Russia has one of the highest divorce rates in the world, sitting at 74% of marriages ending in divorce, as well as some of the highest historical and modern abortion rates in the world. The idea that Russia is some great defender of conservative values is a shadow cast on the wall by the Putin regime. Traditional values have been turned into simply a buzzword to present a Russia that feels ideologically aligned with conservative interests, when this couldn’t be further from the case.

Ultimately, it is a lie to say that Ukraine is a perfect nation. However, when examining the situation at a macro-level, it is overwhelmingly clear that Russia is not the great defender of conservatism it claims to be, and this war is nothing more than a ploy to prevent a democratic nation from deciding to align with the West. Even in the most utilitarian conception of the war, arming Ukraine to help it defend itself is grinding down the Russian war machine and preventing potential American casualties of Russian aggression in the future. Strategically, there are very few downsides, and maintaining this bastion of freedom in Eastern Europe sends Russia a clear message: They can’t bully their neighbors for wanting to support America.

By taking the actions it has, Russia has overtly declared to the world that America and our European allies are its foes, and it will go to grotesque lengths to ensure that the sovereign nations of the world do not choose to align themselves with us. America First doesn’t just mean ignoring the rest of the planet and only caring about our own land. America First means pursuing American interests worldwide. In this case, it means opposing clear, anti-American aggression and tyranny, creating a safer world for our nation and allies to thrive in.