Commentary
Report From Ukraine
- by Dave Morgan , Featured Contributor, February 20, 2025
KYIV -- It’s certainly an interesting time to be visiting Ukraine. I continue to be in awe of a people who can endure nightly air raid sirens, missile attacks and sleepless hours hunkered down in bomb shelters or their bathrooms -- and still show up for work in the morning to do their part to keep their economy operating and to support their defenders on the front line. And they’ve been doing this for three years now, with no breaks.
The Ukrainian people do this to protect what they hold dear: an independent, democratic nations living out the ideals of liberty, rule of law and respect for sovereign borders. They do this out of self-preservation: they are defending their nation, their families and their own lives from one of the world’s most powerful militaries bent on the genocidal destruction and domination of their homeland.
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They do this not only because they know democracy is worth defending, but also because we and other western nations told them more than 30 years ago that we would help protect them from tyrants like Putin if they gave up their nuclear weapons.
The people of Ukraine do not deserve the horrific lies and unfounded attacks that President Trump has directed at them and their president during these past days. The people of Ukraine do not deserve to see their most important partner and ally meet with their enemy occupier to discuss how they plan to sell them out -- not in the name of peace, but in the name of business deals that they might do.
I’m constantly asked these past few days how Ukrainians are handling our betrayal. Fortunately, they know that Trump does not speak for most Americans, and certainly not for those who they’ve had contact with over these past few years, who are doing what they can to help. But dealing with the war and its daily toll on their lives are their main concerns. They can’t afford the luxury to spend too much time worrying about American lunacy.
Everyone in Ukraine has lost people close to them; most, several. No one needs to preach to them about the need for the war to end.
Everyone in Ukraine knows the difference between democracy and dictatorship. They don’t need interference from someone lacking a basic understanding of democratic principles, whose only knowledge of the history of their region is what he’s told by the dictator who looks to Peter the Great for inspiration in his quest to rebuild the Russian Empire.
I feel fortunate to be in Ukraine while this is happening, as do all the other Americans I know who are here now. We are showing Ukrainians through our actions the support that most Americans have for them.
The hardest part of being here during this time, however, is not having a good answer when Ukrainians ask about the lack of strong voices criticizing Trump. The muted silence of the opposition to Trump on Ukraine is deafening, and disturbing.
I don’t expect Ukrainians are going to look to the U.S. for lessons in democratic principles in the future. They know much better than we do the price and power of democracy. Most Americans, unfortunately, are separated by too many generations from their forebears, if they had any, who defended democracy at the level that Ukrainians are doing so today.
For Americans who wonder how folks in Ukraine are dealing with the rhetoric coming from Trump on Ukraine these days, I ask you all, “How are you dealing with it?” And, more importantly, “Do you care enough to do something about it?”
Thank you for expressing this so eloquently. I am with UKRAINE. Beautifully written.
Well said Dave. The Trump foreign policy damage will go well beyond Ukraine. We are a global embarrassment.
Thank you for your reporting and I could not agree more with your statements and assessment. I, too, am baffled by the lack of leaders to show up. We are witnessing a wholesale dismantling of all things that stand for compassion, human rights and common decency. It is sickening. Slava Ukraini
Thank you Andi
Totally agree George. The damage is extraordinary and will be long-lasting
Slava Ukraini Martin!
It is lunacy. Remember when the US foreign policy was focused on encouraging freedom and democracy? Good times. (Yes, we might have failed to live up to that vision, but at least we had a nobler goal than betraying our friends to suck up to autocrats and kleptocracies.)
Trump wan'ts a deal to be made on an instant gratification time table---that's why he is pressuring Zelensky to cave in. The insults and lies--like Zelensky has a 4% approval rating or that Ukraines' military has suffered 800,000 killed so far---the "real numbers"---- are merely his way of applying such pressure. I think that if the "deal" that Trump and Putin agree to involves "elections" throughout the country to see if the people are fed up with Zelensky and favor being part of Russia or if it requires Ukraine to virtually disarm itself and rely on worthless assurances from Trump and Putin about futurre security that Ukraine will simply keep on fighting. If so, it will be Europe's role to step up and provide the backingt that is needed.
Ukraine needs to be at the table for the peace talks not with modern day Hitler Putin only. But Europe could have paid there fair share to support Ukraine America has paid too much in my opinion with our tax dollars which I don't mind paying for some of it with European countries also paying their share as well. Ukrinians will keep fighting the Russians than giving Putin anything and everything he wants and I support Ukraine.
Thank you Dave. As someone of Ukrainian heritage, I am distraught over Trump's lies. I am looking for ways to support the people. I'll be in touch with some questions.
Though trump may want to surrender to Russia, Americans stand with Ukraine.
Dave: I trust you can hear the cheers for you and your company and the unequivocal roar of support for Ukraine from many of us in the Ad world!!!
As I reminded on LinkedIn, of the ~245 million eligible US Presidential voters only ~77 million or 31% voted for the incumbent, with ~75 million voting for democracy and rule of law. ~89.6 million did not vote - the vast majority of which simply did not register. to vote. How much hope this gives the US and the people of Ukraine I am really not sure. Safest travels.
A truly great post, Dave. Stating so clearly what few others will, especially with your feet on the ground there. Your post says it all.
Congratulations, Dave. I'm so glad and proud you are "representing" Americans who adhere to the rule of law and democracy in Ukraine. That is precisely what legitimizes our political system: respect for others who don't necessarily think like ourselves. There is no space for self-proclaimed kings and dictators.
Dave, thanks so much for what you do. It's great that people in Ukraine realize that the US is supportive of them in spite of our idiot president.