2024-11-01 04:02:00
KHARKIV, Ukraine (AP) — Every time American philanthropist Ahmed Khan returns to Ukraine, he begins by expressing his condolences for those killed in the war since his last visit. Over the past two and a half years, his organization has provided more than $50 million in aid to civilians and soldiers struggling to survive the Russian invasion.
Some of them are dead.
For Khan, a former U.S. government official turned philanthropist, the people he supports are like family. Travel to the front lines and war-torn cities to meet them. Your close contact with those enduring conflicts also gives you first-hand experience of the pain and loss they experienced.
“When you deal directly with people, you feel the pain of war,” he said shortly after meeting a father who survived the blast, in which his son was killed.
Khan and many other Americans who support Ukraine’s war effort, whether through financial aid or volunteer fighting, say Washington, Kyiv’s main ally, is not doing enough to help Ukraine defeat Russia. They doubt Tuesday’s U.S. election will change that.
Khan, who campaigned for then-Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton in 1992, said: “Since the outbreak of the war, the United States has been able to mobilize allies to support Ukraine, but not in the way it should have.” It seems their strategy was not Ukraine must win and Russia lose.
He spoke to The Associated Press over the weekend in the eastern region of Kharkiv, one of several stops on his planned travel route, all on the front lines.
The United States has provided more than $59.5 billion in military aid since Russia’s invasion in 2022, but many claim U.S. policies have often hindered Kyiv’s potential. Ukrainian officials say promised weapons are often arriving late.
Zelensky has invited Ukraine to join NATO and authorized the use of Western-donated weapons deep into Russian territory, but U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has treated the move with caution. There are fears that the conflict with nuclear-armed Russia will worsen.
Biden’s vice president, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, is likely to adopt similar policies, while Republican candidate and former President Trump has repeatedly questioned U.S. aid to Ukraine and may seek to further limit military support. Although he also mentioned something he didn’t elaborate on.
At the same time, Russia has managed to strengthen its alliances with Iran and North Korea. The North Korean government is said to be sending soldiers to help Moscow in its conflict with Ukraine.
“If the war escalates, we’re going to be involved… and we’re not even giving Ukraine enough help to win,” Howard G. Buffett, another American philanthropist, said during a recent visit to Ukraine since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. This is my 16th visit to Ukraine. “We never had a strategy on how to defeat Russia.”
Buffett, a Republican and son of billionaire investor Warren Buffett, focuses on humanitarian needs such as infrastructure, agriculture and demining. His foundation has donated approximately $800 million to Ukraine.
“If Ukraine doesn’t succeed, the rest of the democratic world will pay a high price,” Buffett told The Associated Press. “The fact that we don’t all understand this, see it and act on it, is something that will happen in my lifetime. The biggest mistake.”
Driven by the same belief, an American volunteer flew to Poland in August to join the International Legion in Ukraine, after considering the decision for about a year.
“I think this decision was harder than it should have been,” said the 35-year-old fighter, who asked to be identified by his code name, Smoky, under Ukrainian military regulations. A former accountant with no military experience, he is now stationed with Ukrainian forces in the eastern Kharkiv region.
Smokey, a father of two young daughters, said seeing the impact of the Russian invasion on Ukrainian families “took a heavy toll on him.”
With the U.S. election still very close, Smokey said he was happy to be “away from the drama.” Instead, he focused on preparing for his first infantry mission.
“We are tying Ukraine’s hands by restricting the use of certain weapons,” he argued. “It looks like we’re just prolonging the war.”
Another 25-year-old volunteer fighter from Texas, codenamed Dima, began committing to a three-month fight in Ukraine in 2022, which has since turned into a years-long commitment.
Dima was a former Marine and fought in some of the fiercest battles of the war, including the longest battle in Bahmut, after which he took his only rest. When she flew back to her hometown to see family and friends, no one could relate to what she was going through.
On top of that, “the United States is dealing with a lot of its own problems right now,” he noted.
“So they’re reluctant to send more taxes here right now, which I understand,” he said. “But as someone who’s been here since the war started, I think it’s absolutely necessary.”
Khan, who currently manages about 300 ongoing projects in Ukraine, urged fellow Americans to focus on lives torn apart by the conflict with Russia and stressed that the outcome of the war could seriously affect global security.
Khan said he hoped the winner of the US presidential election “really, really spends more time understanding what’s going on here”. “I would urge whoever wins to do this and then try to find new ways to end this war.”
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Associated Press writer Volodymyr Yurchuk contributed to this report.
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This story was translated from English by AP editors with the help of generated artificial intelligence tools.
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**Interview with Ahmed Khan: American Philanthropist and Advocate for Ukraine**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Ahmed. You’ve mentioned in your past visits that you feel a deep sense of responsibility towards the people of Ukraine. Can you elaborate on what drives this commitment?
**Ahmed Khan:** Absolutely. Every time I come back to Ukraine, it’s crucial for me to express my condolences to those who have lost loved ones in this devastating conflict. Over two and a half years, we’ve mobilized over $50 million to support those affected—civilians and soldiers alike. The firsthand accounts I hear from people on the ground, seeing their pain and loss, feel like family to me, and that drives my commitment to help.
**Interviewer:** You recently stated that you believe the U.S. isn’t doing enough to support Ukraine. What specific actions do you think should be taken?
**Ahmed Khan:** I believe the U.S. needs a more decisive strategy that focuses on ensuring Ukraine’s victory. There has been a mobilization of support, but it hasn’t been as robust as it should be. Promised military aid often arrives late, and we need to rethink our approach if we truly aim to defeat the aggression Russia has initiated.
**Interviewer:** With the upcoming U.S. elections, are you hopeful that the political landscape will change in favor of increased support for Ukraine?
**Ahmed Khan:** Frankly, I have my doubts. The political narratives around aid to Ukraine are diverging significantly. We need unified support, but if the leadership remains hesitant or divided, I fear support might diminish, particularly with some candidates questioning continued military aid.
**Interviewer:** Alongside your humanitarian work, you’ve met with others who share your concerns, like Howard Buffett. How critical is it for philanthropists and individuals to engage with this situation?
**Ahmed Khan:** It is essential. Philanthropists like Howard and I believe that if Ukraine fails, it sends a dire message to the entire democratic world. It’s not just about helping Ukraine; it’s about defending democracy itself. Engaging with these issues can mobilize additional resources and awareness which are crucial for a positive outcome.
**Interviewer:** As someone who has witnessed the impact of the war firsthand, what message would you like to convey to the public and potential supporters?
**Ahmed Khan:** I would encourage them to see beyond the headlines. Understand the real, human cost of this conflict. Everyone can contribute, whether through advocacy, financial support, or simply raising awareness. The situation in Ukraine is not just a regional conflict; it impacts global stability. We cannot wait until it escalates further—we need action now.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Ahmed, for your insights and your commitment to helping the people of Ukraine. We appreciate your efforts and hope for a resolution to this crisis soon.
**Ahmed Khan:** Thank you for having me. Together, we can make a difference.
