The Power of U. S. Support: What Ukrainians Hope For

Being in Ukraine, fighting a war with Russia, and relying heavily on U. S. weapons to keep you safe. That's the situation many Ukrainians find themselves in. They're grateful for the help they've received so far, but they're also worried about what might happen after the upcoming U. S. presidential election. Some Ukrainians fear that a new president might stop sending them weapons or even ask them to give up some of their land to make peace with Russia. Let's step back a bit. Since the war began in 2022, the U. S. has sent over $60 billion worth of military aid to Ukraine. This includes big, tough vehicles like Strykers, which Ukrainian soldiers use to protect themselves and attack Russian forces. But even with this support, Ukraine is still struggling. Russian troops have made gains in the east, controlling about 20% of the Donbas region. Ukrainians like Viktor Zakarov, who was once a truck driver but is now a soldier, are thankful for the U. S. help. He says the American weapons and vehicles have saved lives. But they also want more. They want weapons that can reach further into Russian territory, so they can push back harder. The U. S. has been supporting Ukraine since 2014, when people in Ukraine rose up against their pro-Russian government. But Russia responded by sending troops into eastern Ukraine and seizing control of parts of the Donbas and the Crimean Peninsula. Now, with the U. S. election coming up, Ukrainians are feeling anxious. They hope the new president, whoever it is, will continue to support them. They want to keep fighting and push back against Russia, but they need help to do it.