As Ukraine enters the fourth year of its fight against Russia’s invasion, supporters around the world rallied to show solidarity. But this year, these protests carry even greater urgency as the U.S. turns its back on Ukrainian democracy.

Putin made his ambitions clear long before the full-scale invasion. In a 2021 essay, On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians, he dismissed Ukrainian statehood as an extension of Russia and argued that Moscow had been unfairly deprived of its imperial lands. Months later, he acted on those imperialist impulses, launching a full-scale invasion that displaced millions and plunged Europe into its worst conflict since World War II.

Now, even beyond Moscow, this narrative is taking hold in U.S. politics. Years of Kremlin disinformation are now bearing fruit, with U.S. President Donald Trump echoing Russian propaganda—calling Ukraine’s democratically elected leader a dictator and failing to blame Russia for the war.

Trump accused Ukraine of provoking the war, stating, “You should have ended it. Three years! You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.”

A Russian newspaper wrote, “For the first time since the Cold War, America has changed its tone with Russia. This marks one of Moscow’s biggest breakthroughs.”

Now, as Ukraine fights to defend its sovereignty, the war is being reframed—not by Moscow, but by Washington.

On Sunday, his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, declared that the U.S. is “very close” to a peace deal with Russia—one based on the Istanbul Protocol, which called for Ukraine’s capitulation and unilateral disarmament. After a three-and-a-half-hour meeting with Vladimir Putin earlier this month, Witkoff dismissed the war as unnecessary and provoked, refusing to blame Russia for the invasion.

On February 24, the United States joined Russia, North Korea, Belarus, and 14 other Moscow-aligned nations in voting against a U.N. resolution condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine and calling for the return of occupied territory. A dark moment for America and democracies all around the world.

As these narratives take hold in U.S. political discourse, those standing with Ukraine are pushing back— in cities across the country. Against this shifting political backdrop, the rallies in support of Ukraine took on added urgency and anger.

Hundreds gathered in Seattle on Sunday—marking the third anniversary of the invasion and pushing back against the growing tide of pro-Kremlin rhetoric in the U.S. The rally in Seattle was co-hosted by the Ukrainian Association of Washington State and Ukrainian Defense Support (UDS).

Carl Larson, co-founder of UDS, addressed the crowd, expressing deep frustration with the growing anti-Ukrainian rhetoric in U.S. politics. “Unfortunately, there’s a lot of lies coming out recently about Ukraine, by powerful people who should know better,” Larson said. “A lot of backstabbing and betrayal of once-cherished American principles of international law and just ordinary morality and decency.”

His frustration echoed a broader sentiment among attendees. For many, the rally was not just about marking an anniversary—it was about ensuring continued support for Ukraine in the face of shifting U.S. political narratives. “We cannot give up, because right now, as we speak, across the ocean, underequipped but brave as hell soldiers are fighting, sweating, bleeding, and dying—for us,” Larson emphasized.

The event featured speeches from U.S. House Representatives Adam Smith and Pramila Jayapal, who pushed back against Trump’s claims that Ukraine provoked the war.

Following his appearance, Smith posted on social media: “I just spoke at a rally here in Seattle with Ukrainian Americans and supporters of Ukraine. It is incredibly important that we continue to support Ukraine, and it is absolutely shameful that Donald Trump seems to be siding with Vladimir Putin in this war. Let’s be clear—Putin started this war, Russia started this war, and the only way to end it is to give Ukraine security guarantees now and in the future.”

He continued: “Trump’s negotiating strategy—showing weakness to Putin, embracing his worldview, and even suggesting that Ukraine started a war that Russia clearly initiated—is not going to work.”

Smith further emphasized the broader stakes: “This approach not only endangers the Ukrainian people but threatens global security as well. Ukraine is a sovereign, democratic nation with the right to determine its own future. The U.S. must be clear about whose side we are on in this conflict. We need to support the Ukrainian people.”

For many Ukrainians at the rally, Russia’s invasion is just the latest chapter in a long history of aggression. Oleksandr Konstantinov, who moved to the U.S. in 2019, warned against repeating past mistakes.

“Russia has repeatedly invaded other countries over the past century—from Poland and Finland in 1939 to Hungary in 1956, Czechoslovakia in 1968, Moldova in 1992, Georgia in 2008, and Ukraine in 2014 and 2022,” Konstantinov said. “Appeasement or weak responses have only emboldened further aggression each time.”

He emphasized the broader stakes of the war, stating, “If Ukraine is forced to surrender now, it will signal to Russia—and other authoritarian regimes—that invasions and land grabs will be tolerated, making future conflicts inevitable.”

Lina Ngo, a Ukrainian-Vietnamese refugee from Kyiv who fled to the United States following Russia’s full-scale invasion, emphasized the importance of public demonstrations in keeping Ukraine’s struggle in focus.

“Rallies are one of the most powerful ways to remind the world that the war is not over,” Ngo said. “Every time we show up, we send a message to the local community and decision-makers that Ukraine is not forgotten, our defenders still need support, and the fight for justice continues.”

“It’s also a way to connect with others who share the same mission and to turn frustration into action.”

Eddie Priymak, a Ukrainian American from Washington State who attended the rally, said, “It was expected that we’d hold a rally on the three-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but Trump’s anti-Ukrainian rhetoric made it even more important.”

“We came out, first, to show solidarity with Ukraine’s struggle. Second, to remind U.S. representatives that they have constituents who care about Ukraine’s survival,” said Priymak.

“We may not have a direct impact on the administration, but it’s crucial to show our elected officials that their voters support the U.S. commitment to Ukraine.”

Among the voices at the rally was Anton Yefremov, Vice President of UDS, who emphasized the significance of the gathering. “Today, both Americans and Ukrainians marched together in unity. This powerful show of solidarity reflects not only the resilience of Ukrainians but also the determination of Americans who reject the current U.S. administration’s diplomatic course.”

He highlighted the rally’s defiant message, stating, “When people chanted ‘No peace without justice,’ ‘Ukraine is not for sale,’ and ‘Ukraine is our ally,’ it was a clear rejection of any pressure for Ukraine to surrender its land to Russia or its resources to outside powers.”

Yefremov also emphasized the rally’s international presence. “The crowd wasn’t just Ukrainians and Americans—it included Lithuanians, Latvians, Estonians, Poles, Koreans, and Taiwanese. This international coalition proves that Ukraine is not alone in this fight, and support must continue until Ukraine is fully restored to its 1991 borders.”

Luba Uzik, a Ukrainian-American from Washington state, voiced her anger and frustration over U.S. policy toward Ukraine and the looming threat of another betrayal. “Ukraine is resisting Russia’s brutal war and must not face another betrayal,” said Uzik.

She warned that U.S. priorities must shift, adding: “The U.S. must stop demanding payback for minerals and resources while Ukraine fights for its survival. Any peace deal must not repeat the failures of the Budapest Memorandum.”

Calling for action, she urged: “All Americans must recognize these threats and unite in supporting Ukraine.”

Andriy (“Melnyk”) from the 109th Territorial Defense Brigade commented on the protests from afar, stating, “This is very important for our country because it seems that world leaders have either fallen asleep or are steering in the wrong direction and toward the wrong people.”

“We must fight on all fronts.”

While politicians debate the future of Russia’s war against Ukraine, people on the ground continue to stand in solidarity—determined to ensure Ukraine’s struggle is not forgotten. The rally’s message was clear: Ukraine is not alone.

Larson left attendees with a clear message: “As long as the defenders are fighting for us, we will keep fighting for them!”

© Eurasia Review