I just came home to Michigan from three years in the toughest job of my life ― serving as the American Ambassador to Ukraine ― supporting our democratic ally against brutal, unprovoked aggression by Russia.

I have proudly served five presidents ― Republicans and Democrats ― to make sure the United States is the strongest, greatest country that the world has ever known.

I respect the president’s right and responsibility to determine U.S. foreign policy ― with proper checks and balances by U.S. Congress. It is the role of America’s Foreign Service to execute that policy. Unfortunately, the policy since the beginning of the Trump administration has been to put pressure on the victim, Ukraine, rather than on the aggressor, Russia.

As such, I could no longer in good faith carry out the administration’s policy and felt it was my duty to step down. After nearly three decades serving our country, I resigned as our ambassador to Ukraine.

I cannot stand by while a country is invaded, a democracy bombarded, and children killed with impunity. I believe that the only way to secure U.S. interests is to stand up for democracies and to stand against autocrats. Peace at any price is not peace at all ― it is appeasement. And history has taught us time and again that appeasement does not lead to safety, security or prosperity. It leads to more war and suffering.

‘Pure evil'

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, it has done what can only be described as pure evil: killed thousands of civilians, including 700 children, with missiles and drones that hit their homes and apartments in the dead of night.

It has committed over 150,000 war crimes, abducted 20,000 children from their families, and forced millions of men, women and children to flee into Europe and elsewhere.

For three years I heard the stories, saw the brutality, and felt the pain of families whose sons and daughters were killed and wounded by Russian missiles and drones that hit playgrounds, churches and schools. Over a career spent in conflict zones, I’ve seen mass atrocities and wanton destruction first-hand but we have never seen violence so systematic, so widespread and so horrifying in Europe since World War II.

What we do matters

Why does Russia’s invasion of Ukraine matter to the United States?

It matters because how we handle this war will speak volumes to our friends as well as our foes. If we allow Putin to redraw borders by force, he won’t stop with Ukraine. Taken at his word, Putin’s ambition is to resurrect an imperial past ― and he can’t do that without threatening the security of our NATO allies.

And if Putin succeeds, it sends signals to China that will undermine the security balance in Asia and throughout the world. That will have profound implications for America’s safety, security, and prosperity.

Europe is our largest trading partner, with a $1.6 trillion dollar relationship that fuels 16 million jobs on both continents, including right here in Michigan. Maintaining 80 years of peace that came out of the devastation of World War II ― and the economic growth, trade, and real jobs that flow from it ― is what is at stake for us in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

But Russia’s war is about more than foreign policy or economics. It’s about who we are.

The U.S. must lead the free world

My grandfather, who grew up in Charlotte, Michigan, proudly served our nation as a soldier in World War II while my grandmother supported their only child by renting out rooms in their home in Lansing. My grandparents did not see each other for three year and my mom didn’t know her own dad when he came home, but they understood doing what was right.

The America I love, the one our grandparents served, would never stand by and let such horrors happen.

Or give up helping our friends. Or appease the aggressor.

We must hold fast to who we are ― a just, generous, and hard-working people, blessed with a democratic and accountable government, the largest free market economy in the world, and the most powerful military in human history. We must show leadership in the face of aggression, not weakness or complicity. When America does not lead the free world, what is at risk is our own success as a nation.

This is the America I love, and was proud to serve every day.

I may no longer be an American diplomat, but I will never stop believing in the need for American leadership to secure our own future and offer the beacon of hope and possibility for every Michigander, every American and so many others around the world.