Letter: Keep Ukraine war in perspective

Henry Wilson on April 13 wrote a letter about his personal hero President Zelenskyy and the need for U.S. intervention in Ukraine and sending U.S. ground troops if necessary. I assume then in order to save his hero and help his Ukrainian brothers and sisters, he will be the first in line to volunteer to be on the front lines or at least he will send his kids or grandkids to uphold his principles.

No one disputes that Putin is a Marxist tyrant fantasizing on reconstituting the old USSR that he never accepted was defeated by the U.S. during the Reagan/Bush years, and we should do everything we can to see that does not happen, within limits.

Ukraine does not deserve what is happening to it; however, this narrative about what Ukraine is and who Zelenskkyy is needs some honest perspective. Ukraine is ranked 98 out 165 nations in the Human Freedom Index. It is not some noble democracy and Zelenskyy is not Lincoln. Ukarine's stand against the Russians is impressive and our president and Europe can and should be doing more to assist, as long as it is Ukrainians or Europe doing the fighting.

John Vercillo

Elk Grove