Sacramento Residents Can Help the People of Ukraine
Sacramento has one of the largest Ukrainian immigrant populations in the USA, and we want to help the besieged, freedom-loving people of Ukraine push back against Putin’s aggressions.
It doesn’t surprise us that Putin took advantage of our weak President, knowing he would not take the steps needed to deter further invasion into this sovereign nation, including cutting off Russian oil sold to the United States. Thanks to Biden’s failing policies, gas prices are continuing to surge, reaching 8-year highs with no signs of slowing. During his 2020 Presidential campaign, Biden sold himself as a foreign policy expert – but the truth is he has always been a foreign policy disaster. President Obama’s Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, said Biden “has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.” The world is now suffering the consequences of this failing American President.
While Putin was able to ignore Biden, he underestimated the resolve of the Ukrainian people to remain independent of Russia. Their bravery and patriotism has been admirable and worthy of our respect and assistance.
Leadership Matters!
Contact your Member of Congress and demand that the USA returns to energy independence so that we stop funding Russia’s aggression by purchasing their oil. Sacramento voters can find their Member’s contact information at this link: Contact Sacramento Representatives. Then support our endorsed candidates for Congress, Tamika Hamilton (CD 6) and Max Semenenko (CD 7) to help restore Republican control of Congress!
One Sacramento resident who has a personal stake in the Ukraine’s survival is local businessman and candidate for Congress Max Semenenko. With family under seige in his former country, Max is stepping up to inform Sacramentan’s on the history that led up to this tragedy, and the best ways to help the people of Ukraine persevere. Below are Max’s observations:
Putin’s Aggression
“Whoever tries to impede us, or create threats for our country… people should know Russia’s response will be immediate and lead you to consequences you have never encountered in your history.” – Vladimir Putin, 2022
Vladimir Putin has shattered European security and is threatening nuclear war against any country that stands in his way. Putin’s war against innocent Ukrainians is historically criminal. It’s also an attack on the fundamental principles of sovereignty and self-determination that underpin global security. NATO and the west have no choice but to recognize what’s unfolding in Europe. The world must stop Vladimir Putin.
I was born in Ukraine, and I understand why Ukrainians want to join NATO: Peace, security, freedom. Ukraine declared independence August 24, 1991, when the communist Supreme Soviet of Ukraine proclaimed that Ukraine would no longer follow the laws of USSR. What the people of Ukraine didn’t do in August of 1991 was ask to remain a part of a Soviet Union. Nor did they want to continue living under any Russian laws. The people of Ukraine outlived communist oppression in 1991 and they still have absolutely zero desire to live under Moscow’s rule in 2022. Ukrainians are free people and they are fighting furiously against Putin’s invasion.
Why is Putin Killing Ukrainians?
“I indeed said that I believe that the collapse of the USSR was a huge tragedy of the 20th century. You know why? Because first of all, in an instant 25 million Russian people found themselves beyond the borders of the Russian state, although they were living within the borders of the Soviet Union. … Russia was the biggest divided nation in the world.” – Vladimir Putin, 2015
Putin believes Ukraine is not really an independent country. He said so the other day when he also claimed Ukraine owes its creation and belongs to Russia. Putin claims Russians in Ukraine are estranged from their homeland, are under attack, and that Russia is coming to their defense. Putin’s 2008 invasion of Georgia was preceded by Moscow issuing Russian passports to ethnic Russians in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and Ossetia. Russia still occupies up to 20% of the sovereign nation of Georgia to this day. In 2014 Putin began issuing Russian passports to ethnic Russians in Crimea and areas in eastern Ukraine. Crimea was invaded and annexed to Russia soon after. Putin has since continued his asymmetrical form of cultural warfare in eastern Ukraine while arming and directing “Russian rebels” to fight a war of “independence” against Kiev. Now, the tyrant in Moscow comes for all of Ukraine as he claims his forces are “peacekeepers”. It seems Putin has taken notes from Adolph Hitler in his conquest of the Sudetenland. Hitler claimed to be protecting German citizens in Czechoslovakia when he threatened to take the region by force. The difference this time is that the west will not appease Putin as they did Hitler. Putin will not be signing “land-for-peace” treaties. No naive declarations of “peace in our time”.
Is the United States Doing Enough?
Sanction Russia? Yes, and heavily. Work with allies to ban Russia from international banking and financial markets? Without delay! Treat Russia as a pariah state? This should have happened a long time ago. Aid Ukraine in its resistance to Russia? It’s already happening, and we need to dramatically increase our support. When Vladimir Putin threatens nuclear retaliation against those who stand in his way, President Biden and our NATO allies must communicate our resolve to halt Russian aggression in equally strong terms. This new reality demands a new posturing and resurgence of NATO forces into eastern Europe. We must immediately demonstrate by our actions that the United States and NATO will fight back and reverse any further Russian aggression.
I can’t help but point out our own role in empowering Russia. We and our allies have blindly tolerated dependence on Russian energy supplies. Russia profits and finances war with its neighbor’s dependence on Russian supplies. America was an energy independent nation just a few short years ago. It’s not too late to reverse dependence on Russian energy. It’s not too late to return the United States to its status as an energy independent nation. Let’s remember that while we will likely see energy prices rise globally due to the consequences of Putin’s choice, we would be better prepared for this if the keystone pipeline hadn’t been canceled, if the oil fields in the Dakotas were open again, and if the United States finally followed through with plans to develop vast oil reserves in places like Anwar, Alaska.
How Can We Support Ukraine?
As an immigrant from the Ukraine, I am personally donating to and working with Revived Soldiers Ukraine, a non-profit that is providing aid to Ukrainian families and healthcare to wounded soldiers. I would ask anyone who has the means to donate to help as well at www.rsukraine.org as we fight this fight together.
Beyond donating or giving time, please pray for peace. Pray for the United States, our soldiers, and our leaders. Pray for the safety of our friends and allies facing the enemy, Ukrainian families, and those on the frontlines. Pray for Ukrainian leaders. God bless and good luck to all of us.
Medical assistance to soldiers and their families, and equipping military hospitals with items needed to care for the wounded.
Other organizations assisting the people of Ukraine:
Razom for Ukraine is raising funds to put more volunteers on the ground who will deliver “essential equipment and goods” as well as assist in translating important documents, the organization said.
United Help of Ukraine aims to provide life-saving first-aid kits to the front lines, and “prepare humanitarian aid to civilians.”
Sunflower of Peace is asking for donations to pay for backpacks filled with medical equipment. In the hands of front-line doctors and paramedics “each backpack has the ability to save up to 10 lives: Ukrainian soldiers, civilians, volunteers, and children.