1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

The United States should reconsider its position on demanding repayment from Ukraine for military aid provided. When Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in the 1990s as part of the Budapest Memorandum, it was given security assurances by the U.S. and other nations in exchange. Pushing for repayment from Ukraine undermines those commitments and places an undue burden on a nation already suffering from an unjustified invasion and fighting for its survival. As an ally, the U.S. has a moral obligation to stand by the assurances it made to Ukraine years ago when it gave up a major deterrent. Continuing to insist on repayment damages relations and trust between nations at a critical time. The military aid should be treated as upholding previous promises rather than a debt to be paid back by an embattled country simply trying to defend itself.