Letters from an American February 24, 2026
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Feb 25, 2026 A concise history of how Putin launched the 2022 invasion and the claims he used to justify it. A look at the 1994 Budapest Memorandum and Ukraine's decision to give up Soviet nuclear weapons. An account of shifting U.S. policy, NATO rebuilding, and allied military and humanitarian aid. Coverage of private diplomacy, public signals favoring Russia, and rising civilian casualties since 2025.
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Budapest Memorandum Broken By Invasion
- Russia broke the 1994 Budapest Memorandum by invading Ukraine after Ukraine gave up its Soviet-era nuclear weapons.
- Heather Cox Richardson notes Ukraine had the third largest nuclear stockpile in 1994, traded for security assurances from Russia, the US, and the UK.
Zelensky Stayed And Said I Need Ammunition Not A Ride
- Volodymyr Zelensky refused exile and famously replied I need ammunition, not a ride when offered evacuation.
- Richardson describes Zelensky's viral video from Kyiv showing leaders, soldiers, and citizens staying to defend independence.
Allies Rebuilt And Coordinated Aid And Sanctions
- The Biden administration rebuilt alliances after Trump weakened NATO and led a coordinated package of military aid and sanctions.
- Richardson quantifies U.S. support as about $50 billion military and $53 billion humanitarian aid and the SWIFT exclusion on Feb 26, 2022.