John,

Donald Trump’s complete political and moral alignment with Vladimir Putin -- a murderous dictator bent on crushing democracy -- is now beyond doubt. By humiliating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, scolding him for not trusting Putin to honor a ceasefire, and outrageously claiming Ukraine started the war that Russia launched, Trump sent a clear message: He stands with autocrats, not democracies.

That was the green light for Trump’s MAGA allies, led by J.D. Vance and echoed by enablers like Lindsey Graham, to pile on. They attacked Zelenskyy for not showing enough gratitude -- even though Trump’s hostility toward Ukraine began long ago, with his infamous extortion attempt that led to his first impeachment.

Now, Trump and his loyalists dismiss Ukraine’s demand for security guarantees, insisting instead on a sham "peace deal" that would force Ukraine into submission under Russian rule. This isn’t diplomacy; it’s a betrayal of democracy itself.

We cannot let this stand. Tell Congress: America must stand with democracy, not with Trump, Putin, and their authoritarian agenda.

Zelenskyy has made it clear: Putin has spent a decade breaking every deal he signs. Every so-called "ceasefire" has been a ruse, giving Russia time to rearm, regroup, and continue its brutal invasion. Trump and Vance know this. And yet, they still choose Putin over Ukraine, autocracy over democracy.

We cannot allow the U.S. to turn its back on a democratic ally. If Trump and Vance get their way, Ukraine will be abandoned, and Putin will seize more land, more power, and more lives. Europe is stepping up, pledging billions in aid, but they cannot replace U.S. leadership. If Congress does not act, Ukraine will fall -- and Putin’s war machine will not stop there. Eastern Europe, Poland, and beyond could be next.

Zelenskyy himself put it best:

“For us, the most terrible steel is not within missiles, aircraft, and tanks -- but in shackles. We would rather live in trenches than live in chains… Because freedom is not about having unshackled hands. Freedom is about having unshackled minds.”

The fight for Ukraine is the fight for democracy itself. If Congress has the courage to act, it can still provide Ukraine with the military and economic aid it needs to survive. But if we stay silent, MAGA Republicans will erase U.S. support, paving the way for dictatorship and war. If that happens, Putin wins. And democracy loses.

We cannot let this ruthless betrayal of our democratic ally stand. Tell Congress: America stands with Ukraine.

Thank you for standing on the right side of history.

- DFA AF Team