President Donald Trump struggled to offer much sympathy for the families of about 100 Americans—many of them U.S. military veterans—who have died fighting in Ukraine. An estimated several thousand Americans have volunteered to fight for Ukraine since Russian dictator Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion in 2022, with at least 92 Americans killed as of September, The New York Times reported.
Following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday to discuss a peace deal to end the war, Trump was asked about his message to the families of the fallen Americans. “The message is so obvious,” he replied. “What a shame. They died in a foreign country. And some are celebrated people, they’re very celebrated. But it’s so sad that a thing like that would happen.”
archive article: https://archive.is/Z6UOz#selection-1365.0-1373.10
Always has been unless there are specific sanctions. The French have a whole foreign born legion. It’s pretty famous.
The usual offer is fight for us and become a citizen. The US even has allowances for foreign volunteers although it’s pretty strict from my understanding and we tend to renege on the deal and conveniently ICE them before having to reward them with anything.
that’s what concerned me - the US is happy, eager even, to toss those away who gave everything to help and become citizens. what is it going to do to the citizens who became ukraine volunteers when it sours on ukraine?
Here you go mate, the video I promised. By the YouTuber CivDiv.
https://youtu.be/nktMY2Na5ys
It’s an hour long and pretty damn good. It’s probably the best video I’ve seen discussing an individuals reasons for fighting.
I also found a number of other articles and videos and a study which I’ll link to as well.
https://www.rferl.org/a/former-us-green-beret-iraq-afghanistan-ukraine-/32469454.html
https://carleton.ca/eetn/2025/american-foreign-fighters-in-ukraine-motivations-profiles-and-risk-assessment/
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=07Q9PGDFDLE
thanks!
Ukraine has offered those volunteers citizenship. Maybe they won’t be able to return to the US but many won’t want to. There is fellowship to be found in war. You fight and die with those around you, you live with that fellowship. People, like me, who don’t go through that will NEVER understand.
When there is peace, as eventually there will be regardless of how long that takes, Ukraine or whatever country is there will have many veterans. They’ll have to reckon with the horrors of war, what they did and what was done to them. But they will be able to do it together.
Some will go off and fight in other wars.
Most will try to rebuild their country and themselves with it. Whether they were born in Ukraine or chose to fight for her. Many will stay because all their friendships, built over years of war, are there. They will have the respect of the general populace (look at how the US treated WWI & WWII vets) and will be glorified for their sacrifices.
But it’s not about glory, those who fight for glory give up, it’s a common theme throughout history. Ukraine isn’t fighting because they want to. It’s a fight for survival.
At first I thought you were a troll for the sake of being contrarian. But it seems like you’re coming from a place of genuine interest. So let me ask you a question: What would you fight for?
Family, friends, territory, honor, a lover? What would cause you to drop everything and go off to war? If the answer is nothing you might want to evaluate that. Maybe you’re a Ghandi devoted to nonviolence but I’d argue even Ghandi fought a war. He marched across his country and was tortured for his efforts.
While you think I’m going to find a video someone made on YouTube, a kid who went to Ukraine to fight. Kid is a bit of a funny term, he must be approaching or in his 30s now if he’s still alive. But he went off to Iraq with the US and was quickly disillusioned, then fought in Afghanistan as a volunteer for the Kurds. Now he’s in Ukraine. He has an interesting tale and an interesting perspective and his own reason for fighting. I’d try to sum it up but I’ll find the video and let him explain.
i appreciate the other post with the link. will add it to my list and watch soon.
i distrust all states. knowing that the us has fucked afghans over and started icing them… for the same help they gave us during our invasion of their lands… i cant help but wonder what will happen to the folks from the us who commit to helping ukraine. or any place for that matter - i will return to “any” in a moment.
will ukraine pull the rug and deny them citizenship? what if the us switches and starts to pull support for ukraine?
i reckon your link answers that. :)
re “any place” - look at palestine - we all KNOW israel is doing a genocide. if someone volunteers to help defend against israel, they are 100% doing the right thing BUT the us will absolutely wreck them should they return home. this isn’t an attempt at whataboutism but a direct parallel. i would 100% volunteer my services to the people of palestine - not as a fighter too old but as a first responder, sure. i’d be a “criminal” for it in the eyes of the us though.
as far as helping ukraine - i support where i can and locally that means supporting my neighbors, a family of 6, from ukraine’s capital as they adjust to american differences. 3 fighting age boys. already almost fluent. also sharing traditional food and recipes. but thats just me being hungry. 😂