At Christmas time there have been some bleak moments in wars that brought out the best in nations and changed the course of history.

On the evening of December 25, 1776, with his soldiers reduced to wearing rags and with the war for our independence at a desperate place, Washington crossed the Delaware to move onto the offensive.

A Shelter in Camden Town under a Brewery: Christmas Eve,1940," painted by Olga Lehmann, encapsulates the stoicism of Londoners enduring the Blitz as the Allies were being pushed back in all directions.

Ukrainian soldiers huddled in a bunker last year, sharing a Christmas table amidst the echoes of war.

Now is not the time to be calling for negotiations.

Now is the time to give Ukraine what is needed to win.

In the midst of different eras and disparate corners of the world, three images converge to tell a poignant tale of resilience and unwavering spirit.

Across these scenes, an analogy unfolds — a narrative that spans centuries and continents, echoing the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity. Much like the American patriots during their struggle for independence and the Allied forces amid the chaos of World War II, the Ukrainian soldiers find themselves in a crucible of challenges and profound losses.

Yet, just as Valley Forge did not break the solve of the American revolutionaries and the Blitz failed to extinguish the spirit of Londoners, the Ukrainian people stood resilient in the face of their own trials. The images are not merely frozen moments in time; they are reflections of the unyielding courage exhibited by those who, despite the hardships, refuse to surrender or negotiate away their homeland and their freedom.

The connection is drawn through the shared experience of facing formidable adversaries, enduring great sacrifices, and celebrating moments of unity even in the bleakest of circumstances. The message resonates through the ages—difficult times and profound losses do not diminish the will to resist, rebuild, and reclaim what is rightfully theirs.

As Ukraine navigates the challenges of Putin’s war, the analogy reinforces the call for support and military aid. The echoes of history remind us that, like their predecessors, the Ukrainian people will not yield or compromise on the territories where their fellow citizens reside or abandon the abducted children. The connection among these images transcends time and geography, serving as a powerful reminder that the flame of resilience burns brightly in the face of adversity.

Throughout history, there have been Christmases where war was going badly and seemed hopeless, but there were no negotiations, no suing for peace, there was doubling down and total commitment to victory, and that is the situation with Ukraine – time to decide, time to commit to victory, time to act.

And by next Christmas Ukraine will be whole and free!

SUPPORT THE U.S.-UKRAINE FOUNDATION'S

2023 ANNUAL GIVING CAMPAIGN

Dear Friends of Ukraine,

It is at this critical time for the People of Ukraine that I again seek your generous financial support for our strategic programming.

Over the past year, the Foundation has aided the People of Ukraine on so many fronts, in humanitarian assistance, in advocating for Ukraine in Washington, DC, in educational and informational programming.

Our work for U.S.-Ukraine interests, through our Friends of Ukraine Network (FOUN),which is a non-partisan coalition of former ambassadors, leading foreign policy experts, former Members of Congress, and international security professionals who have dealt with key aspects of Ukraine’s relations with the U.S. and the international community, is indispensable to our overall success in immediate and long-term support for Ukraine. FOUN is a unique and highly effective advocacy activity in that it brings together individuals from different spheres and perspectives but who are all united in support of Ukraine and in advancing U.S. national interests: economic, national security, humanitarian, etc. No other organization has put together such a bipartisan group of internationally-recognized Ukraine experts who have been making highly-sophisticated recommendations regarding U.S. assistance for Ukraine to Members of Congress and the White House.

Our humanitarian assistance of over $15,000,000 during the past 22 months comprises of both purchased and donated medical supplies, life-saving equipment, food, art therapy sessions for children, K9 de-mining protections/animal shelters, transport costs, aid to the disadvantaged and most vulnerable, such as the disabled, orphans and the internally displaced, and direct cash grants of over $1,000,000to charity groups, including Blue Check Ukraine, Open Hearts and the Rotary Kyiv Club International.

Our work and mission are needed NOW more than ever!

Help us plan for our 2024 budgets. Your participation and generosity are key to the Foundation's mission, in supporting democracy, a free market and human rights for Ukraine. Our programs and operations depend on individuals like you. Your active participation in the USUF community makes a statement of your interest and commitment to the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation's mission.

Please join in our efforts in supporting The People of Ukraine by making a gift today, regardless of size, to the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation.