As members of Congress heard from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Wednesday, the dire situation his country faces was clear.
“The destiny of our country is being decided,” he said. ” … Russia has attacked not just us, not just our land, our cities. It went on a brutal offensive against our values. … Against our freedom, our right to live freely, choosing our own future. Against our desire for happiness, against our national dreams.”
Americans, unlike residents of almost any other nation, can understand his desperate fight to preserve and defend those freedoms. In fact, as West Virginia’s congressional delegation reflected on Zelenskyy’s speech, it was clear he struck a nerve.
U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said “We are on their side and we’re going to help them. We have been helping them, we just need to help them more.” U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said “The United States can and must do more to support the valiant efforts of the Ukrainian people and prevent (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s further advance while also preventing another world war.”
U.S. Reps. Alex Mooney and Carol Miller, both R-W.Va., each said on social media that “America stands with Ukraine.”
And U.S. Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., put the finest point on the matter: “The U.S. should support President Zelenskyy’s calls for increased economic sanctions against Russia, providing humanitarian aid, and military assistance, stopping short of putting boots on the ground.”
We can and MUST do more — yes, stopping only at “boots on the ground.” President Joe Biden and American corporations must not be shy about doing real damage to Russia, rather than the timid economic sanctions and political hot air Putin likely expected.
Members of Congress are right to draw a line at putting American armed forces in harm’s way. But there is still a great deal that could be done to cripple Putin. Ukraine will not survive long enough for us to hem and haw our way into deciding to do it.