Hi, this is Rachel Vindman, and I'm so glad we're doing this episode of OK But Why about the ongoing war in Ukraine, because I think it's something still very relevant to what's going on in the United States right now.

So I'm so glad that you've joined us, and I hope that you'll take something away from this that you can use to have

conversations with the people in your life.

There's so much happening in politics right now.

So Red Wine and Blue is here to ask, okay, but why?

War always poses a threat to many.

You all see in the media and read in reports what is happening in Ukraine because of Russia's war.

It's something many are imagining happening to themselves,

but the deepest understanding of war is always found in the home it destroys.

Thank you. Slava Ukraine.

It's hard to believe that the current war in Ukraine has been going on for more than three years.

Russia invaded in February of 2022.

You may have heard a neighbor or a family member asking, why should the United States be involved at all?

With so many problems here at home, why should we care about a war on the other side of the world?

Well, there's two ways to answer that question. The humanitarian crisis and our national security.

Let's start with the humanitarian reasons that we should support Ukraine.

Ukrainians share our values and overwhelmingly support democracy,

but they haven't had the chance to be in

control of their own country for very long. The area that's now Ukraine was an important center

of Slavic culture all the way back in the Middle Ages, but it wasn't until 1917 that the Ukrainian

People's Republic was formed. But the brand new nation was thrown into turmoil by

the First and Second World Wars, and Ukrainians were among the first victims of the Holocaust.

...