When I was in the Army I was prepared to go to war against soldiers from both countries, so I have no special affinity.
To me, this is real simple. Putin is running a war of aggression and conquest against a neighboring country. If he succeeds, instead of being a few hundred miles away, he will have Russian troops on the borders of Poland and Romania, two allies. He is upsetting the balance of power that has existed since the end of the Cold War. Ukraine, in contrast, has never threatened its neighbors.
It is in the United States' interest, especially from a national security perspective, that Ukraine stop Putin. I don't advocate military intervention or sending US troops, but there is still a lot we can do to help Ukraine and we should.
Speaking of upsetting the balance of power, how would you like it if Russia were to enter into a military alliance with Canada? Would you perhaps feel a teeny bit aggrieved that Russian troops might be garrisoned on the other side of Niagara falls?
Identify any US vital interest in Ukeland.
Not protecting democracy or NATO, but a direct interest akin to closing our southern border and getting serious about energy independence or pushing the wetbacks who have invaded us out.
If Russia could reassemble its former east Block it would be of no real interest. The Cold War was conducted against the USSR and communism’s historically unique emnity against all other regimes. The Soviet Union is gone and it’s ideology as well. This is just a typical chapter in great power politics. Let the Europeans deal with it and let the US depart to mind it’s own business and it’s very serious internal problems
“It is in the United States’ interest, especially from a national security perspective, that Ukraine stop Putin.”
An easy claim to make, impossible to substantiate.
If it were true, then it would make sense for the US to go to war in Ukraine against Russia.
But it’s not true.