Supporting Ukraine is America First

It bolsters our economy, hurts our enemies, and curtails funding for terrorism.

Main Headline: America’s support for Ukraine bolsters our economy and keeps us safe.

This week, the UN passed a resolution demanding that Russia withdraw from Ukraine and seek a peaceful resolution. The U.S. voted against it—joining Russia, North Korea, and Hungary.

Trump’s administration has now cemented its alignment with dictators and fascists. The reason? Trump admires Putin’s unchecked power and wealth. His administration argues that cutting off Ukraine is an "America First" move.

At first glance, that argument seems compelling. Many Americans wonder why billions are going abroad instead of helping them. But here’s the truth: That money is helping Americans.

Abandoning Ukraine isn’t just a moral failure—it’s a losing deal for America. Our support fuels the U.S. economy, weakens our enemies, and costs a fraction of past wars.

However, instead of confirming his support for Ukraine, Trump and his administration have taken a different approach. Expressing support for Putin, blaming Ukraine for starting the war and using American support as a negotiating tool to control Ukraine’s mineral resources.

Trump’s opposition to aid for Ukraine does not help America. Holding aid to gain access to their mineral rights is not an America First approach.

We need to expose this. Here’s how.

TL;DR: What You Need to Know

• 70% of U.S. aid to Ukraine is spent in America, benefiting 31 states and 71 cities.

• Russia’s military power has been severely weakened.

• China is less likely to invade Taiwan.

• Russia has had to divert money away from funding terrorism.

Benefit 1: Ukraine Aid Bolsters Local Economies

Since Russia's invasion, the U.S. has allocated $175 billion in aid to Ukraine—$67 billion for military assistance and $49 billion in budget support. But many don’t realize that most of that military aid is spent here in America.

The Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds weapons production in U.S. factories— primarily in red states like Texas and Alabama. Congress earmarked $13 billion in 2024 alone for this program, fueling defense jobs and local economies.

31 states and 71 cities have directly benefited from this spending. Key examples:

• Pennsylvania: Scranton Army Ammunition Plant produces 155mm artillery shells crucial for Ukraine’s defense.

• Alabama: Factories ramped up production of Javelin anti-tank missiles.

• Texas: Plants manufacture components for HIMARS, Ukraine’s most effective long-range strike system.

The bottom line: 70% of U.S. aid to Ukraine stays in America. Trump’s push to end it would strip billions from states like Texas, Alabama, and Pennsylvania.

So when someone says, “That money should go to Americans,” remind them: It already does.

Benefit 2: Ukraine Aid Keeps Us Safe

A stronger Russia makes America less safe—at home and abroad. Defending Ukraine weakens that threat.

Thanks to Ukraine’s resistance:

• Russia’s military has been devastated. They’ve suffered massive casualties, lost thousands of tanks and aircraft, and are struggling with supply shortages due to sanctions.

• China is rethinking Taiwan. Ukraine has proven that a smaller country, backed by the West, can resist a larger invader. That reality is forcing Beijing to think twice.

• Russia’s ability to fund terrorism has been drained. Instead of bankrolling proxy groups, Russia is funneling resources into a losing war.

The bottom line: Ending aid to Ukraine doesn’t put America first—it puts us in danger. It strengthens Russia, emboldens China, threatens democracy in Europe, and allows terrorist funding to ramp back up.

How To Talk About This:

Here’s the bottom line: For less than 1% of our defense budget, America has boosted our economy, crippled Russia’s military, deterred China, and disrupted global terrorism—all without risking a single U.S. soldier.

This isn’t charity—it’s one of the best strategic investments we’ve ever made. It strengthens America’s security, industry, and global standing at a fraction of the cost of past wars.

Cutting off Ukraine reverses all of that.

So when people ask, “Why are we sending money to Ukraine?” remind them: we’re not just helping Ukraine—we’re helping ourselves.

Sources:

https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/ukraine-war-cost-us-spending-9dfd903e

https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/how-america-s-aid-to-ukraine-actually-works

https://nypost.com/2025/02/25/world-news/ukraine-war-has-cost-280-billion-whos-paying-the-most/

https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/without-u-s-aid-ukraine-would-lose-some-of-its-most-sophisticated-weapons-e3bf6cb7

https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/article/3671938/dod-official-restates-why-supporting-ukraine-is-in-us-interest/

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2318

https://econofact.org/factbrief/does-most-u-s-aid-to-ukraine-go-to-u-s-companies-and-workers

https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3918679/latest-security-assistance-for-ukraine-announced-white-house-directs-dod-to-all/

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20221118IPR55707/european-parliament-declares-russia-to-be-a-state-sponsor-of-terrorism

https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/russias-relationship-hamas-and-putins-global-calculations

https://www.csis.org/analysis/putins-proxies-examining-russias-use-private-military-companies

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/25/world/europe/ukraine-minerals-deal.html