As a Virginian who fled Ukraine with my family just weeks before Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago, I know what happens when the world hesitates in the face of authoritarian aggression. As our family was leaving Kyiv, I remember Putin denying he would invade despite having troops surrounding the country. When the invasion started, I realized I might never return if Ukraine fell, and I knew even worse could happen beyond Ukraine’s borders. I responded the only way I could at the time: by amplifying humanitarian aid efforts. Aggressors just keep going until we take a stand and stop them.

“If you’ve ever wondered what you would have done in 1930s Germany, you’re doing it.” Variations of this statement have been going viral again, and for good reason: with a nuclear-armed superpower attacking Ukraine and threatening Europe, where does America stand with its allies?

American leadership must remain clear and consistent about global threats. President Biden stated of Putin, “He’s not a decent man – he’s a dictator.” In contrast, President Trump focused on labeling President Zelensky a “dictator without elections” while avoiding accountability for Putin, raising serious concerns about whether our allies can count on us to stand firm against authoritarian threats.

Senator Thom Tillis called Putin a “cancer and the greatest threat to democracy in my lifetime”, and many Republicans privately agree. Leaders like Representative Jen Kiggans have an opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to global security and the alliances protecting American interests.

I have written an open letter to Rep. Kiggans recognizing it’s critical she clarifies whether she is aligned with President Trump’s statements about Ukraine and their president, and she should for a number of reasons.

While Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty are at risk, the risk has direct implications for the long-term security of the United States and its allies. It’s about whether we will stand against aggression or capitulate to it. If we allow an autocracy to invade and win, what does that say about America’s role in the world? Given her past leadership on national security, Rep. Kiggans has the opportunity to reaffirm that commitment by making her stance on Ukraine clear in light of the President’s recent statements. We cannot set a precedent that this is all right.

While a number of my contacts supported the election of President Trump, their focus was not on Ukraine more than it was on other topics such as government spending and immigration. However, Ukraine is not just some random foreign policy debate. The bigger picture is that the United States has never been alone in this world. Our network of allies and strategic partnerships are what have positioned us to have a strong economic and national security. Wavering in our commitment to Ukraine would send a dangerous message not only to Russia as President Trump is doing now, but also to China, Iran, and North Korea. It is not a coincidence that Taiwan, Israel, and South Korea, respectively, all have a legitimate right to worry about their neighbors. If we waver on our promises, then it sends our geopolitical competitors the message that our promises are conditional, that our alliances can shift on a dime, and that democracy is not worth defending when it’s inconvenient.

Rep. Kiggans has previously shown support for our allies, stating, powerfully: “Iran and its proxies will not stop with Israel. Putin will not stop with Ukraine. China will not stop with Taiwan. Every military family knows if we allow our adversaries to go unchecked, it will eventually mean U.S. boots on the ground.”

She is right. More importantly, supporting Ukraine aligns with an “America First” approach because it defends American interests. Our country has spent decades shaping a global order that benefits American workers, businesses, and our military families. The cost of abandoning Ukraine and empowering Russia would set the precedent for future invasions in Europe and Asia, a cost that would be far greater than supporting Ukraine now. Much of the military aid to Ukraine that Rep. Kiggans voted to approve is spent in the United States, creating jobs while strengthening our security.

As a security professional, I know hesitation makes us vulnerable. The first best time to invest in security is before an attack. The second best time? We’re risking the global order if we do not stand firm on Ukraine. Everything we do, whether through humanitarian or military aid to Ukraine, weakens Russia’s ability to threaten NATO and our country. Every successful counteroffensive by Ukraine limits the invader’s reach and claim to Ukraine’s territory. When Ukraine stands strong, it needs to remind us that democracy is worth fighting for.

What’s also damaging to our national security is inconsistency. Our country supported our allies in Israel when their elections were delayed due to the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas. Why would we dare to push Ukraine to hold elections when the nuclear superpower that is invading Ukraine is looking for any reason to achieve a sham election result in its favor? Given the realities of wartime governance, labeling President Zelensky a dictator oversimplifies a complex situation and risks promoting Kremlin-backed narratives. Inconsistencies like these weaken America’s credibility, undermine our alliances, and empower our adversaries who thrive on the opportunity to divide and conquer.

It’s several days since President Trump made his statements. He finally admitted that Russia started the war while blaming Ukraine for Russia starting it in the same breath.

I wrote my open letter to Rep. Kiggans because I need to know if she supports a world where democracy is preferred over autocracy. I’m not asking these questions just because I lost family members to Russian forces. I’m asking because I’ve seen how quickly misinformation spreads, and how people, even in our country, have been led to believe that Ukrainian forces committed the very war crimes that Russia has verifiably perpetrated. That level of deception should concern every American, especially those in Congress. If left unchecked, these lies shape public opinion, influence our elections, weaken our institutions, and undermine policymaking. I’m asking because Russia under Putin will not stop, which Rep. Kiggans stated herself.

It's important to remember that this past week isn’t the first time President Trump has aligned with Putin. In July 2018, the two presidents attended an infamous summit in Helsinki, during which President Trump accepted Putin’s dishonest statements contradicting our intelligence services. This is why Rep. Kiggans should clarify whether she continues to support the strong national security principles she has advocated in the past, principles recognizing Putin as a long-term threat to global stability and our national security. We know what Putin’s strategy is here, and he’s been consistent: destabilize democracies, divide alliances, and legitimize territorial theft. America’s security depends on standing firm against authoritarian regimes. It means we need to continue providing support to Ukraine, strengthen NATO, and push back on Russian propaganda, not align with it.

We responded too slowly when Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine the first time in 2014. After the 2022 invasion, the stakes are not as high for me and my immediate family despite being displaced from Ukraine and our plans to travel regularly between Virginia Beach and Kyiv being shattered. The stakes are much higher for the type of world we want to live in, which without question should be a democracy and not an autocracy.

My letter to Rep. Kiggans may not go into as much detail as I am here, but the questions I have asked her are the same all Americans should expect all of their congresspeople to answer: