This week, the U.S. Senate passed a $95.3 billion military aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, following a rare all-night session. While this marks a win for the Biden administration after months of resistance, particularly from the GOP on the $60 billion designated for Ukraine, the bill still faces a tough battle in the Republican-controlled House. The growing opposition to Ukraine aid is threatening to unravel a core element of America’s identity—one shaped by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s declaration of the U.S. as the “great arsenal of democracy” in 1940.
As a U.S. Army veteran, a recent conversation with a Ukrainian friend about why Americans join the military made me reflect on the core motivations behind serving abroad. While the practical benefits—pay, healthcare, and tuition—are undeniable, many service members join for a deep sense of “patriotism” and “duty.” This sense of duty is not just about defending U.S. soil; it extends to the belief that America has a moral obligation to intervene when global injustices arise—a belief that has defined our national character since World War II.
World War II transformed America into the world’s premier superpower. At the time, we took on the moral responsibility of preventing fascism and used our unmatched resources to safeguard democracy across the globe. This commitment became a part of the American ideal: a belief that when the world faces a moral crisis, we are the ones who can and should act. This ideal has been our guiding star, bolstered by the resources needed to fulfill that responsibility. But since that era, many of our foreign interventions, from Vietnam to Iraq, have lacked a clear moral cause. The war in Ukraine, however, is different. Russia’s invasion represents an undeniable evil, as Moscow seeks to dismantle democracy and reclaim control over its sovereign neighbor. Ukraine, in turn, is asking for resources, not manpower, to defend itself.
Having traveled across Ukraine last summer with a nonprofit aid group, I saw firsthand the devastation caused by Russia’s assault. In a small eastern Ukrainian town, I met a boy who showed us the ruins of what were once homes, a hospital, and the town hall. Russian artillery had rained down on his town, killing many while he and his family survived. Ukraine is asking for military resources that only the U.S. can provide to continue holding Russia at bay. And yet, there is growing resistance, particularly from the far-right, to further support Ukraine.
Donald Trump’s “America First” ideology has fueled this opposition, with figures like Matt Gaetz, Rand Paul, and JD Vance echoing sentiments that Ukraine’s battle is not America’s concern. Some argue that supporting Ukraine weakens the U.S., while others suggest Ukraine should simply give up some territory to Russia. But this defeatist rhetoric is a far cry from what defined the “greatest generation”—those who took up arms to fight for a clear moral cause on a global stage.
The financial arguments against Ukraine aid are weak. Less than 2% of the U.S. federal budget is allocated to this cause, and a large portion of the money stays within the U.S. Support for Ukraine has depleted Russia’s military resources without the loss of a single American soldier. The true danger, however, lies not in the financial cost but in the defeatist attitude that suggests the U.S. is no longer willing to step up when the world needs us.
Around the world, many still see the U.S. as a beacon of peace and stability. Yurii, a Ukrainian soldier recovering in a hospital after an artillery strike, summed it up when he said that American support matters “because we feel that we are not alone, that truth is on our side.” Abandoning Ukraine would not only be a moral failure; it would signal the end of America’s role as a global leader and effectively mark the death of the American mythos we’ve clung to for generations.
As global threats multiply, U.S. commitment to its allies should be unwavering. Yet, political games in Congress risk undermining that commitment. If we stop supporting Ukraine, it will not just be a blow to global peace, but also a profound loss to the very identity of the United States. Our sense of duty, our belief in democracy, and our role as a global force for good would be irreparably damaged.
We cannot afford to let this happen. The world—and America’s place in it—depends on us standing firm.
