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After 9/11 when the U.S. invaded Iraq, we sent out a call for assistance to form a “coalition of the willing.” In over five years, more than 6,000 Ukrainians did military service by supporting the U.S. in either Iraq or Kuwait. Eighteen Ukrainian soldiers died in Iraq. The U.S. Army website states “the Ukrainians served as the third-largest coalition forces contingent in Iraq.”

Ukraine was one of only three countries to openly support U.S. operations in Afghanistan when that war started. Ukraine sent her troops and during our withdrawal helped evacuate various personnel from Afghanistan. The Ukrainian military rescued people trapped in Afghanistan by “deploying their special forces troops into the city on foot to conduct the rescue.”

Russia did not help the U.S. in either of these situations and I am sure was cheering our enemies on. It is unfortunate that Trump, Vance and Finstad are so ignorant of Ukrainians’ affection for America and of Americans, they are willing to sell Ukraine and America out to a common enemy — Russia.

Leonid Skorin Jr.
Albert Lea