Ged Maloney

Why don’t Ukrainians just stop fighting and give Russia what it wants? To understand the answer, look at Germany after World War II. Germany was divided. West Germany embraced democracy, freedom, and a market economy. East Germany fell under Soviet control and communist rule. Same people. Same culture. Same history. But two very different futures. West Germany prospered. East Germany struggled under Soviet rule. And when the Berlin Wall was built, it wasn’t to keep people out. It was to keep people from escaping. Ukrainians know this history. They understand what it means to live under Moscow’s thumb. My wife is Ukrainian. My mother-in-law still lives in Ukraine. For me, this isn’t just another war on the evening news. It’s personal. Ukrainians aren’t simply fighting for a piece of land. They’re fighting for the right to determine their own destiny. They’re fighting for their children, their grandchildren, and future generations that they will never live to see. They’re fighting for the freedom to choose their leaders, speak their language, express their opinions without fear, and build a future without asking Putin’s permission. They don’t want their children growing up in another East Germany. Imagine being told that America should surrender its independence because defending it is too costly. Imagine being told that freedom simply isn’t worth the sacrifice. We would never stand for that. We would fight to the last man. Of course Ukraine wants peace. Who wouldn’t? But there’s a profound difference between peace and submission. Ukraine isn’t fighting because its people love war. They’re fighting because they love their country, their families, and the freedom they want to leave to future generations. And that is something every American who values our own independence should understand. Слава Україні! Author: Daryle Vlic Scott