PAVLOHRAD—The drive from Kyiv to Dnipro and Pavlohrad reveals a Ukraine of contrasts. Beautiful fields of sunflowers wave in the wind, and gorgeous churches with gleaming golden tops grace the landscape. Children play on playgrounds, while parents sit nearby chatting with friends and drinking coffee. But also, there are burned-out gas stations and shops, recently struck by Russian drones or ballistic missiles. Puffs of smoke hover over a playground from a recent drone or missile interception. Netting encases major roadways to help protect cars from drone attacks. And on the street, many men carry noticeable injuries, including missing hands, arms, or legs.
In other words, it is a beautiful country marred by the horrors of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war that is filled with people who refuse to let those horrors prevail.
I recently had the opportunity to travel to Ukraine along with Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), as he visited Ukrainian troops in eastern Ukraine and met with senior government officials. The trip followed the NATO Summit in Ankara, where US President Donald Trump agreed to allow Ukraine to make Patriot missiles, and came as Ukraine continues to deliver strikes deep inside Russia. Four-and-a-half years in, it felt like a conflict that was reaching a turning point.
