Bloodshed. Fear. Tragedy.

This is the reality for the people of Ukraine.

As nations around the world start to consider their level of involvement in the war between Russia and Ukraine, it is vital that the United States maintains its position on offering monetary aid over military aid.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Congress virtually on March 16, requesting more aid for Ukraine’s fight against Russia. President Biden said afterward that he would send $800 million in additional security assistance to Ukraine, totaling $1 billion in US aid to Ukraine since the start of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion.

The current US strategy of supporting Ukraine with monetary aid while maintaining a neutral military status is the right move to make. Throughout the events of this war, the US needs to tread carefully and focus on providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine in order to prevent the development of a catastrophic nuclear war, which could destroy billions of lives.

The most important distinction to make is that Ukraine is being attacked by Putin, not by the Russian people as a whole. At the outbreak of the invasion, thousands of Russian citizens protested against Putin’s decision, but most protestors were jailed for speaking out against him. Putin has issued threats of a societal cleansing to those Russians opposing the war, and many have fled the country in fear of being detained for anti-war sentiments. Moreover, Russians are being misinformed by the government through propaganda, so many do not even know what is actually happening in Ukraine.

Putin launched the full-scale invasion of the former Soviet territory on February 24, after weeks surrounding the Ukrainian border.

Ukraine has expressed interest in joining the European Union and NATO, and this is a threat to Putin’s power. A country like Ukraine—so close to Russia—joining an organization founded on Western ideas such as democracy would endanger Putin’s 22-year-long term as “president”. Such ideas entering Russia would influence the ideology of Russian citizens; his lengthy presidential term would then reflect a dictatorship instead of a true democracy.

Ukraine has been independent from Russia since 1991. Yet, nonetheless, Putin continues his desperate invasion, even sending a 17-mile long convoy of military vehicles to Ukraine on February 28. His efforts have also been targeting civilians. One such event was the bombing of a maternity hospital with people still inside, killing three, injuring 17, and trapping many more under the debris. Among the deaths was a child.

This is not the first time Putin has attacked Ukraine. In fact, Putin has participated in a series of skirmishes with the Ukrainian military since 2014. Over 14,000 people have been killed and millions displaced in the years since then.

Now, the conflict has escalated into war.

Just before he launched this invasion, Putin described it as nothing more than a “special military operation,” claiming that Ukraine was a threat to Russia’s safety.

Though neither he nor his government may admit it, Putin’s “special military operation” is a gross breach of Ukraine’s independence, sparked by his fear of Westernization and democracy. Putin has said that he does not view Ukraine as independent or Ukrainians as distinct and separate from Russia.

April 24 marked two months since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. With the death toll rising, Ukrainians have been bravely holding on to independence. Hopefully, they will be able to continue to do so.