In response to the letter of April 18, “Guthrie ignoring his duty” by Jack Scott, there are important reasons for the U.S. aid to Ukraine, which contributes relatively little to the federal debt.

Starting with U.S. aid, the package just passed, about $60 billion, is only a 20th of a percent of Gross Domestic Product ($28.2 trillion) and about 7% of the U.S. military budget ($886 billion). Compared to the Lend-Lease aid that we gave to Britain and China prior to Pearl Harbor, which was about 10 percent of GDP, Ukraine aid is a drop in the bucket.

In return for aid to Ukraine, we get continued resistance to Russian expansion without our own troops risking life and limb. Why is this important? First, the Soviet Union agreed to Ukraine’s independence provided that it relinquished its nuclear weapons. Why is it suddenly OK to renege on that agreement? Russia under Putin is in the process of retaking the former territory of the old Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. It has already taken over part of Georgia and is supporting Moldovan separatists.

Second, the free countries of Europe grew in number over the course of the 20th century. They share with us the ideals of civil liberty, peace and the rule of law. If Ukraine is overtaken, NATO members like Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia would be under immediate threat.

The reason to support Ukraine is like the reason to support Britain during World War II. Where would we be today if Europe had been conquered by the Nazis? The U.S. does not stand alone. It prospers with its allies.

I am relieved that the House and Senate came together to support Ukraine and our own interests as well.

Mary Wolinski

Bowling Green