What I Witnessed in Ukraine Will Never Leave Me

In 2024, I traveled to Kyiv on a discreet mission and witnessed firsthand the devastation Vladimir Putin’s war has brought to Ukraine.

One image will stay with me forever.

I watched civilians picking up broken glass at a children’s hospital that had been struck by a Russian missile. I heard directly from doctors who were mid-procedure when the blast occurred.

A children’s hospital. Think about that.

Innocent children, families, doctors, and nurses caught in the violence of a war they did nothing to provoke.

Last night, I was reminded of that experience as the St. Louis Speaker Series hosted Boris Johnson, which Clayco proudly supports as a nonpartisan presenting sponsor. The series brings diverse perspectives to our community and encourages the kind of thoughtful dialogue we need more of.

Boris and I may disagree on some things. But we are completely aligned on one of the most consequential moral issues of our time: defending Ukraine and its people against Putin’s brutal and unprovoked aggression.

Let me be perfectly clear about my personal convictions.

Vladimir Putin is a terrorist.

His regime has brought unimaginable suffering to Ukraine. Since launching his full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russian forces have attacked homes, hospitals, schools, and critical civilian infrastructure. Thousands of innocent people have been killed, millions displaced, and Ukrainian children forcibly transferred or deported to Russia.

These are not simply the unfortunate consequences of war. Many of these actions have been documented as potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.

And the world should never become accustomed to them.

There is no moral equivalence between a sovereign nation defending its freedom and an aggressor attempting to destroy it.

I proudly stood with Ukraine in 2022, and what I witnessed in Kyiv only strengthened my convictions.

I believe Americans, regardless of political affiliation, have a responsibility to understand what is happening and what is at stake.

Do your own research. Read the reporting. Study the history. Understand the consequences of allowing a dictator to redraw international borders through violence and intimidation.

Then make your voice heard. Contact your senators, representatives, and other elected officials. Tell them where you stand.

I support strong sanctions against Russia, including bipartisan efforts to increase economic pressure on Putin’s regime. I am willing to accept higher energy prices and other economic consequences rather than continue purchasing Russian products that help finance this war.

And I strongly support providing Ukraine with the military, economic, and humanitarian assistance necessary to defend its sovereignty and defeat Russian aggression.

Freedom has never been free. Sometimes defending it requires sacrifice, even from those of us fortunate enough to live thousands of miles from the battlefield.

This should not be a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. It is an American issue. A human issue. A moral issue.

Our country has a long history of standing against tyranny and supporting nations fighting for their independence. We should not abandon those principles now.

Silence and indifference have consequences.

I stand with Ukraine. I stand for democracy. I stand against Putin’s terrorism and Russia’s unprovoked aggression.

And I believe America must continue to stand with the Ukrainian people until they can live in peace, security, and freedom.

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