By Kyiv Post
On this fourth 4th of July since Russia鈥檚 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we at Kyiv Post would like to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence with all Americans.
The signatories鈥 act of courageous will 鈥 to set out on an unprecedented political course despite the overwhelming odds against them 鈥 sparked not only the American Revolution nearly two and a half centuries ago, it transformed how humanity governs itself and has led to a world order in which democracy has become an aspired to standard.
The idea of a 鈥済overnment of the people, by the people, and for the people,鈥 as Abraham Lincoln would later describe it, is no longer the pet project of an enlightened intellectual elite. It has become the ideal to which progressive societies strive, or at least pay lip service.
Here in Ukraine, we see a society fighting not merely for its survival, but specifically to remain a state ruled by and for its own people. Ukrainians 鈥 and all those who have come here to either thrive or support our defense against an invader bent on annihilating us 鈥 are fighting for their own 鈥渟elf-evident鈥 truth that they may exercise their 鈥渋nalienable right鈥 to 鈥渓ife, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.鈥
Unfortunately, when the struggle becomes difficult, when subjected to a particularly vicious attack on civilians 鈥 as happened this morning 鈥 it can seem to those of us in Ukraine that many people living in peaceful, democratic countries have become complacent, lost the will to defend their respective democracies, and begun to take democracy for granted.
In this light, we urge all Americans, and specifically their leadership, to not forget the fight we witness every day. Among the staff at Kyiv Post and its regular contributors, there are many US citizens, and a good number among us have even served in the US Armed Forces and taken a solemn oath 鈥渢o support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.鈥 We recognize the ideals behind Ukrainians鈥 fight: exactly the same ideals that fueled America鈥檚 exceptional project and allowed it to repeatedly help save large parts of the world from totalitarian or tyrannical regimes.
The ideals of 鈥渓ife, liberty and the pursuit of happiness鈥 are being fought for intensely here in Kyiv and all over Ukraine. Every day we see the grassroots efforts of ordinary citizens crowdfunding the defense against their Goliath of a neighbor; we see families trying to live 鈥渘ormally,鈥 with dignity, despite the war. We show up to work every day after sleepless nights enduring the now regular onslaught of indiscriminate drone and missile attacks. And to our great sadness, every day we see the trauma of relatives, friends and acquaintances maimed or struggling with loss because of this senseless invasion.
Thus far, our most dependable shield here in Kyiv has been that provided by US high-tech weapons 鈥 particularly the Patriot air defense batteries defending this capital of patriots against hypersonic terrorism. Now that shield appears to be in jeopardy.
We at Kyiv Post, in our efforts to spread the news of what is really happening in Ukraine, are fighting for the American ideal of freedom of speech embedded in the First Amendment of the US Constitution. Like all Ukrainians, we are not just fighting against a ruthless invader. We are fighting for the ideals you and generations of Americans before you have stalwartly defended 鈥 often at the cost of your lives.
So, despite our dismay over the current American leadership鈥檚 apparent appeasement of the dark forces that want to destroy Ukraine, we remain undaunted, hopeful. The American notion of good must prevail. Freedom 鈥 which Ukraine is shedding blood for 鈥 must prevail over tyranny, oppression and all the evils we at Kyiv Post and many other publications track for the world on a minute-by-minute basis.
Indeed, we know that despite the US leadership鈥檚 apparent willingness to abandon Ukraine as an ally, the American people 鈥 Republicans and Democrats alike 鈥 overwhelmingly support the Ukrainian cause.
So, we appeal to you: Do not betray your American ideals. Do not betray your staunch ally 鈥 Ukraine.