Conservatives Can't Stay Neutral on Russia's War in Ukraine
It has been more than four years since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, escalating a conflict that began in 2014. Since the beginning, the United States has been heavily involved in both funding and diplomacy. But the intervening years and growing uncertainty have caused the support to wane.
TL;DR
- Conservatives should not appear neutral on the fundamental question of Russian aggression in Ukraine.
- The article contrasts the political Right's response to the Ukraine conflict with its response to the Hamas attacks in Israel, finding the former disappointing due to a lack of consistent principles.
- Criticism is directed at statements by Donald Trump and JD Vance that appear to accommodate Vladimir Putin and treat Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as an obstacle to peace.
- The author asserts that opposing Russia does not require supporting Zelensky's domestic policies but does require acknowledging Ukraine's right to independence and commitment to American security.
- Foreign policy should not be driven by personality or flattery of leaders; Ukrainians are fighting for their right to exist as a country separate from Russia, a goal Americans should support.
- Conservatives need to stand firm on principles of freedom and opposition to aggression, regardless of fickle leaders or political winds.