PPI - Radically Pragmatic
  • Donate
Skip to content
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Locations
    • Careers
  • People
  • Projects
  • Our Work
  • Events
  • Donate

Our Work

Ritz for Forbes: Ukraine Aid Costs Pale In Comparison To The Price Of Appeasement

  • December 18, 2023
  • Ben Ritz

By Ben Ritz

The current obstacle holding up Washington’s continued aid to Ukraine seems unconnected to the merits. Republicans, many of whom do not share President Joe Biden’s resolve to stand firm against Vladimir Putin’s imperial ambitions, are refusing to approve new funding unless the administration accepts their position on domestic immigration reform. They are cynically using Ukraine’s fate as a chit in an unrelated political battle. But underpinning this decision is another view held by many of them and their constituents: that the money Washington spends on assistance to Kyiv is a poor use of taxpayer dollars.

The critic’s argument, which can frequently be heard on both the right and the far left, is rhetorically powerful: How does it make sense to spend money on Ukraine’s military when we have so many problems here at home? Why should America finance a foreign war when we’re facing ballooning budget deficits, rising consumer prices, and other pressing economic needs? The answer is relatively straightforward: Cutting the Ukrainians off would not only be morally reprehensible, and militarily shortsighted — it would be fiscally irresponsible.

Read more in Forbes.

Related Work

Op-Ed  |  May 28, 2025

Jacoby for Forbes: Europe Looks For Alternatives To A Changing NATO

  • Tamar Jacoby
Op-Ed  |  May 27, 2025

Jacoby for The Bulwark: Three Essential Next Steps on Ukraine

  • Tamar Jacoby
Op-Ed  |  May 23, 2025

Lewis for Real Clear Markets: Europe Is Toxic for Investors, and the EU Commission Shows Why

  • Lindsay Mark Lewis
Podcast  |  May 21, 2025

Ritz on the Concord Coalition’s Facing the Future Podcast: Is Trump Repeating Biden’s Mistakes?

  • Ben Ritz
In the News  |  May 20, 2025

Ritz on SiriusXM POTUS: The Briefing

  • Ben Ritz
Press Release  |  May 16, 2025

Loss of AAA Rating for U.S. Credit Underscores Grave Consequences of Trump’s Budget-Busting Bill

  • Ben Ritz
  • Never miss an update:

  • Subscribe to our newsletter
PPI Logo
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Donate
  • Careers
  • © 2025 Progressive Policy Institute. All Rights Reserved.
  • |
  • Privacy Policy
  • |
  • Privacy Settings