Brewer says Ukrainians United, Need More Aid

Nebraska state Sen. Tom Brewer, back from a monthlong trip to Ukraine, says that country is united in opposing the Russian invasion but needs more help from the United States.

Brewer, a retired career Army officer, is just back from a private visit to Ukraine where he helped with humanitarian relief efforts and assessed military needs.

He said one of the things that impressed him, in contrast to Iraq and Afghanistan when he served there, was the unity of the Ukrainian people. His first day in the country, the mayor of the Ukrainian city of Lviv invited him to the funeral of two soldier from the city who had been killed. Brewer described the funeral procession:

“Once the coffins are loaded into the hearse, the town stands down. And when the town stands down, they line the streets and they play the equivalent of taps. But the entire town, and this is a town of two million people, stops,” Brewer said.

After failing to capture the capital Kiev, the Russians are currently fighting to take over parts of eastern and southern Ukraine where more Russian-speaking people live.

Brewer says the Ukrainians he met were keen to see an American who came for more than a short visit.

“Every town I went to the mayor wanted to meet with me. That was the standard. And I think it would have been a snub if you would’ve ever not met with them. And they had incredible stories to tell you. But more than anything they just wanted to meet with an American. Becaues they knew that America was supporting them. But they’d never seen the ambassador. They’ve never seen another American except maybe a reporter,” he said.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said operations at the embassy have been limited, with officials working remotely, but the embassy engages with “partners in the field” to ensure aid is reaching the right recipients.

Brewer says he’ll write a report with recommendations on how to improve the delivery of aid, and may return to Ukraine in October.