Some MAGA supporters argue that a US-Russia alliance is better and/or Russia is justified in invading Ukraine and continuing to commit mass slaughter of Ukrainian people. Not surprisingly, those arguments ignore, deny or downplay the reasons that the US and American people would be better off supporting Ukraine.
Reasons to support Ukraine against Russia’s unprovoked invasion
An alliance with and support of Ukraine is far better for the American people because (1) that stands squarely for democracy against brutal tyranny and kleptocracy (Putin is both a murdering tyrant and an aggressive kleptocrat), (2) it signals that the US will stand by its treaties, like the one we had with Ukraine, (3) it shows compassion for a people unjustifiably and immorally attacked and mass murdered by Putin, (4) US military and economic support for Ukraine will help prevent a larger, much more dangerous war involving the US against Russia, (5) it makes tyrant’s immoral wars of conquest less attractive to all other governments, because if Russia gets lasting advantages by invading and annexing Ukrainian territory, other governments can reasonably conclude that military conquest and mass slaughter of civilians pays far more than whatever the costs might me, (6) helping Ukraine defend itself makes further Russian aggression more difficult and costly, (7) contradicts tyrant’s ideas that only nuclear weapons can keep their country safe, and (8) Russia has nothing of value to offer that comes remotely close to the vast disadvantages arising from the US doing a deal with Putin, which would effectively endorse and forgive what Putin has done to the Ukrainian and Russian people, and to people all over the world (the Russian invasion caused a spike in food price inflation).
As it is now, a person can reasonably argue that Trump broke the US treaty simply because he supports dictators and dictatorship, especially including Putin’s in Russia. As we all know, Ukraine gave up the nuclear arsenal on its territory and joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear-weapon state. In return for that huge concession, Ukraine received assurances of border integrity in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. Putin’s unprovoked invasion blew that off. Worse, Trump has sabotaged US aid to Ukraine as much as he can get away with. That makes Trump’s America an anti-democratic state that no democratic nation can trust. But dictators worldwide can generally count on support from the MAGA party and Trump himself.
Q: Are MAGA arguments in support of Putin’s Russia and his Ukraine war rational and morally justifiable because, e.g., as Putin falsely argues, Ukraine wanted to join NATO and NATO is a hyper-aggressive military alliance that’s hell bent on completely destroying Russia and the Russian people?
Some info sources:
Freedom House: Russia – Not free — Comment: Under Putin’s Rusian dictatorship, power is concentrated in Putin’s hands. He controls subservient courts and the media, and he manipulates elections, suppresses genuine opposition. Russia’s dictatorship received 12/100 and a “Not Free” classification by Freedom House.
Freedom House: Ukraine – Partly Free
Treasury Sanctions Russians Bankrolling Putin and Russia-Backed Influence Actors — Here, the US Treasury refers to Putin’s dictatorship as a kleptocracy
Memorandum on Security Assurances in Connection with Ukraine’s Accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons — Comment: Its commitments include respecting Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and existing borders; refraining from threats or force and certain forms of economic coercion; and consulting when questions arise about those commitments. Its provision concerning immediate Security Council assistance specifically concerns aggression involving nuclear weapons.
General Assembly Overwhelmingly Adopts Resolution Demanding Russian Federation Immediately End Illegal Use of Force in Ukraine, Withdraw All Troops — Comment: The resolution passed 141–5, with 35 abstentions. The UN condemned Russia’s aggression as a violation of the UN Charter and demanded complete and unconditional withdrawal. Russia’s invasion was illegal under international law.
Press statement by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, Palais des Nations, Geneva — Comment: Putin ordered his military to commit an array of crimes including torture, sexual violence and enforced disappearances against civilians. As the UN report puts it, Russian authorities have committed torture pursuant to a coordinated state policy and as crimes against humanity. That is part of the deep moral rot that some American MAGA supporters are defending.
Budapest Memorandum Myths — December 5 marks the 30th anniversary of the Budapest Memorandum of Security Assurances for Ukraine, a key part of the settlement under which Ukraine gave up what was then the world’s third largest nuclear arsenal. Unfortunately, Russia has grossly violated the commitments that it made in the document. ….. the United States should have provided, and should provide, more assistance, with the goal of helping Ukraine prevail. That is not due just to U.S.-Ukrainian discussions three decades ago but to the fact that a Russian victory would mean a more dangerous Russian threat to Europe and America. (emphasis added)
NATO’s support for Ukraine — Comment: This analysis argues that successful Russian aggression undermines prohibitions against on acquiring territory by force. NATO assistance for Ukraine’s self-defense include measures intended to impose costs on Russia’s military and to impair its capacity to rebuild its military. NATO wants to limit further unprovoked Russian aggression against other nations.
War Fuels Food Crisis — Comment: This IMF analysis notes that Russia’s invasion has hurt people worldwide due to increased food prices. Putin’s unprovoked war slaughtered not only Russians and Ukrainians, but also screwed people worldwide on food prices. That includes Americans.
Deterrence and defence — NATO is a defensive alliance. Its members are committed to safeguarding the freedom and security of all Allies, against all threats, from all directions.
The North Atlantic Treaty — Comment: This is NATO’s founding document from 1949. NATO is a defensive alliance, not the aggression pact that Putin falsely claims.
Link to the NYT article showing the slaughtered Ukrainian family lying in the street after Putin had them slaughtered as part of his war of aggression
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