1. United States
2. Minn.
3. Letter

It is deeply concerning to see the Republican party abandon its longstanding principles of standing up to authoritarian regimes and defending democratic allies in the face of aggression. Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine was a blatant violation of international law and a direct attack on the sovereignty of an independent nation. Yet, many Republicans have chosen to remain silent or even support President Trump's alarming pivot toward embracing Putin's narrative and abandoning Ukraine. For years, Republicans positioned themselves as the hawkish voice advocating for a strong national defense and unwavering backing for allies facing threats from hostile actors like Russia. However, their current stance of deferring to Trump's increasingly pro-Putin positions exposes the hollowness of their claimed principles. How can they justify aligning with a leader who has cozied up to Putin, an undeniable war criminal guilty of atrocities in Ukraine? The Republican party's deafening silence as Trump casts Ukraine's democratically-elected President Zelenskyy as a "dictator" is a slap in the face to the Ukrainian people bravely resisting Russia's brutal invasion in defense of their freedom and democracy. This shameful capitulation cannot be acceptable from a party that once prided itself as a defender of liberty around the world. It is imperative that principled Republicans reject Trump's dangerous pivot toward Putin and his appeasement of Russian aggression. Turning a blind eye to Russia's crimes emboldens further authoritarian overreach and undermines America's standing as a beacon of democracy. Our commitment to our allies and democratic values must supersede partisan political calculations. Unwavering support for Ukraine's self-defense and sovereignty should be non-negotiable. We must call out this hypocrisy and be loud in support of our allies!