What Should the U.S. Do About Ukraine?

             Russian forces have been moving to the Ukraine border for several months and advanced into Ukraine last weekend. Now, there are nearly 200,000 Russian military troops almost surrounding Ukraine. Americans are asking why Ukraine is important to us. Alexis Mrachek is a research associate on Russia and Eurasia at The Heritage Foundation and has some answers.

1. Increased Energy Prices

A further Russian invasion of Ukraine could continue to put pressure on energy markets globally and in the U.S.

Oil and natural gas prices are at multiyear highs for Americans, driving up costs for heat, power, and transportation….

… Russia is the No. 2 producer of natural gas and No. 3 producer of oil in the world.

2. Violent Spillover onto NATO Allies

Americans should care because if a major war breaks out in Ukraine, it could spill over to neighboring countries.

Wars by their nature are messy and rarely respect political borders. This could have an enormous economic impact on the U.S. …

3. Sovereignty, Secure Borders, and Self-Defense

Americans should care because of what is referred to as the three S’s: sovereignty, secure borders, and self-defense. These pertain to Ukraine just as much as to the United States.

In regard to Ukraine, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country should be prioritized and protected. In 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine. And since that year, Russia has illegally occupied Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, which accounts for approximately 7% of Ukraine’s landmass and more than half of its coastline, and continues to stoke a were in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.

And right now, Russia is threatening to violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity even more so. This is typical of Russia….

Self-defense also matters to Ukraine just as much as it matters to Americans….

Secure borders are also important Ukraine, as they are to the United States….

4. Putin’s Invasion Undermines Democracy

Finally, Americans should care about the situation in Ukraine because Putin has been doing everything he can to undermine our interests for the more than 20 years he has been in power over Russia. Ukraine has expressed a desire to emulate the U.S. and has put in place a working democracy….

What Happens in Ukraine Affects Us All

Don’t believe any false narratives saying the U.S. shouldn’t care about what is happening in Ukraine. The U.S. cannot ignore the situation. When you consider the factors outlined above, the situation hits close to home. What happens with Ukraine affects us all.

            Putin is wrong at every level to invade Ukraine. He is a bully who is threatening world peace. The only way to stop him is by force. President Donald Trump had him stopped, but President Joe Biden is too weak to do anything.