Commentary: Russia’s war in Ukraine is genocide. Christian politicians are obliged to help support Ukraine in actions — not empty words or votes.
IherPhoto/Getty ImagesCourtesy of David Root
U.S. House Rep. Mary Miller, R-Illinois, deserves applause for her conservative and Christian values. However, her recent vote against the Ukraine Support Act (HB 2913) seems perplexing as Russia carries out its war against Ukraine’s Christians and farmers.
Fortunately, HB 2913 passed the House (226-195) and is up for Senate consideration. It allocates roughly $1 billion in financial assistance to Ukraine. This represents a mere one-tenth of 1% of the U.S. defense budget, or the equivalent cost of a $3 yearly cup of coffee per U.S. resident. It also allocates $8 billion in loans and puts crippling sanctions on Russian financial and energy companies to defund Russia’s war machine.
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When Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, Miller said, “I will continue to pray that God watches over the people of Ukraine.” Since then, Russia has waged a war against evangelical Christians, kidnapped 20,000 Ukrainian children, obliterated dozens of Ukraine cities to ashes, enslaved 1.6 million children, murdered 60 priests, and bombed 620 churches.
The ultimate question that begs to be answered is whether the Christian wing of the GOP is just giving lip service to Christianity for self-serving political gain or will they take concrete actions and vote to uphold true Christian principles?
Russia’s war in Ukraine is genocide, pure and simple. This is a grave abomination of Christianity, since Christians are taught to believe in the sanctity of human life. Therefore, Christian politicians are obliged to help support Ukraine in actions — not empty words or votes that contradict their faith.
Many congressmen are unduly influenced by the Russian Orthodox church that secretly funnels money to Washington lobbyists. These lobbyists function as Russian agents by peddling false narratives to Congress that Ukraine persecutes Christians. This is possible because of a religious exemption preventing “foreign agent” disclosure.
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Christians should be alarmed as Russian forces in occupied Ukraine brutally persecute evangelical Christians considered to be American spies. A word search of “Russia tortures Christians” reveals that Russia — not Ukraine — persecutes Christians.
A common fallacy is that Russia’s genocide in Ukraine can only end with peace negotiations dictated by Russia. Unfortunately, negotiations with Russia are untenable since Russia has violated 400 international treaties since 2014. Russia’s state-run media unapologetically endorses annihilation of Ukraine’s 40 million people.
In a February 2022 press release, Mary Miller championed Donald Trump’s Peace through Strength initiative of his first term. It’s high time Congress willed these words into reality.
Having been to Ukraine many times, I’ve seen those hard-working Ukrainian farmers that resemble American farmers. The documentary “Farmers of Ukraine” depicts farmers working their fields and hunted down like animals and murdered by Russian drone operators. Vladimir Putin’s scorched earth policy of destroying farms and indiscriminate killing of horses and livestock bears resemblance to Joseph Stalin’s Holodomor genocide of the 1930s.
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Further evidence that negotiations with dictator Putin are implausible.
Ukraine is not a charity case, but is a very valuable ally and asset for America. According to conservative Republican Sen. John Kennedy, “Ukraine has some of the most sophisticated drone technology in the world” that can help America’s defense.
Meanwhile, Russia has been actively providing Iran help with satellite imagery being used to target American facilities. So far, 13 American servicemen have been killed in our war with Iran.
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A vote against Ukraine is not a neutral vote, but it actually helps Russia which is America’s arch adversary. Instead of capitulating to satanic Russia, Christian members of Congress should will their faith into reality by standing with and partnering with Ukraine.
David Root is a Damascus, Maryland, resident and international journalist covering Ukraine.