ARLINGTON, Va.—Concerned Veterans for America issued the following statement in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine:
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an immoral act of aggression that has led to a senseless loss of life. While America should continue to support diplomatic efforts to bring an end to this war, it is important to recognize no vital U.S. national interests are at stake in Ukraine that warrant an aggressive military response. Additionally, this is primarily a European security challenge and as a result, the United States should push our wealthy allies to take the lead in enhancing security in Eastern Europe.
The United States should avoid taking additional actions in response to this invasion – such as arming a Ukrainian insurgency or deploying more forces to Eastern Europe – that could increase the risk of an armed conflict with a nuclear-armed Russia while also distracting from other pressing priorities at home and abroad.
The immediate focus should be on driving a diplomatic solution to the conflict to alleviate the suffering of the Ukrainian people. But there eventually needs to be a reckoning with the fact that while responsibility for the invasion is squarely on the Russian government, three decades of failed American policy towards European security and NATO across both Republican and Democrat administrations contributed to the current crisis. Keeping open the NATO door for Ukraine, even though the country had no realistic possibility of joining the alliance, both aggravated Russia and gave false hope to the Ukrainian government of more NATO support. Additionally, expanding our security umbrella in Europe while our wealthy European allies failed to adequately fund their own defenses disincentivized those countries from taking more responsibility for the security of their own continent.
Ukraine’s future will be difficult. And while we grieve for its citizens, we must see the situation for what it is and learn from it going forward so we don’t repeat the same mistakes.
BACKGROUND
According to recent polling from YouGov, 49 percent of the general population does not favor the U.S. going to war with Russia if it invades Ukraine. Only 9 percent strongly favor U.S. military involvement to counter Russia, while 15 percent somewhat favor it.
Just 26% say the U.S. should have a major role in the conflict, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Fifty-two percent say a minor role; 20% say none at all.
More than two-thirds (69%) of Americans think the United States should impose additional sanctions against Russia as it masses its forces along the border with Ukraine, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. Nearly half of respondents (48%) said Ukraine’s problems are not America’s business. The poll found 62% oppose sending U.S. troops to defend Ukraine against a Russian invasion, with opposition strongest among Republicans. A majority also opposed air strikes.
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