OPINION:
Thank you for your harrowing but important story “Ukraine’s ammunition shortages offer Russia first win in months” (web, Feb. 22).
Vladimir Putin’s forces have shown their ruthlessness in recent days, with the highly suspicious death in prison of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the assassination of a dissident in Spain, the detainment of another American citizen in Russia and the destruction of Avdiivka. In his recent interview, Mr. Putin made it clear that he regards all of Ukraine — not only the areas he has been able to annex so far — as belonging to him.
Appeasement will not provide long-term peace with Mr. Putin. Like his ideological grandfather Josef Stalin, he will continue to want the
land next to his. Ukrainians are paying with their lives and limbs to defend freedom, and they need us to replenish their supply of
ammunition and equipment so that they can keep shooting back instead of just getting shot.
Surrendering Ukraine to Mr. Putin would do nothing to help the domestic security or economy of America. Isolationism could save us money in the short term, but it would likely cost much more later, when an emboldened Mr. Putin and his authoritarian allies in China, Iran and elsewhere would reap the benefits from the new age of “might makes right.”
Ukrainian soldiers and volunteers have the courage to kill and die in defense of their freedom, and ultimately that of all the West.
House Speaker Mike Johnson must find the courage to brave the criticisms of a handful of isolationists and bring a military aid bill to the floor.
JOHN J. DZIAK
Chicago
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