Ukraine Aid Paused
The United States has paused military aid to Ukraine in an effort to speed peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. The move comes days after a tense Oval Office meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. The meeting was originally intended to include the signing of a deal to provide the U.S. with access to Ukraine’s robust mineral supply but ended abruptly after the leaders clashed. Both Trump and Zelensky later stated the deal is still viable, but the pause on military aid is a significant challenge for the Ukrainian military as it remains under siege from Russia.
Analysis and eternal perspective: There has been significant ink spilled analyzing the Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelensky, and plenty of finger pointing about who is most to blame for the deteriorating relationship between the two leaders. There is little to gain from adding to that conversation, but there are still several truths we as The Equipped community should stand on even as they do not fit neatly into any of the standard prevailing narratives:
1) Russia is the clear aggressor and oppressor in the ongoing war – In February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian military to invade sovereign Ukrainian territory. For more than three years now, and at great cost of human life on both sides, Putin has sought to take land from Ukraine, an objective that is consistent with his previous invasions of sovereign territory. We know from history that when Putin is rewarded with land after invading, he invades again.
2) Peace is a worthy goal and perpetual war should be avoided – We as The Equipped family regularly remind ourselves of our mandate to persistently pursue peace (Ps. 34:14). This mindset is at odds with the world around us, and true peace is difficult to achieve. It requires a deliberate decision to pursue it, a clear understanding of who is being oppressed, and often great sacrifice.
3) An end to the war is not the same as peace – It matters a great deal how this war ends. It matters to the Ukrainian people, the Russian people, and people all around the world. The terms of the war’s end are also perhaps the single greatest factor in determining whether Putin’s territorial lust will again result in another invasion.
Each one of us likely cringes a bit at some portion or another of the above. The framework doesn’t neatly support any particular political narrative, but as we work to view the horrors of this war through a biblical lens that should always be aimed toward peace, let’s together reiterate our commitment to seeking justice and defending the oppressed (Is. 1:17). These components are far more important than any political narrative.
The following article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.