Rand Paul is wrong about Ukraine. I have lived in Putin’s shadow, and America must help.

Sen. Rand Paul, a dear and longtime friend, has made it quite clear that he believes Ukraine should be left to fight for its territorial integrity on its own. The United States, he seems to believe, has no role to play in helping it maintain its territorial integrity.

His views are understandable, and his position, I am sure, is thoughtfully taken. Nevertheless, he missed the mark no matter how well-intentioned he may be. Their fight is our fight, and we must not shirk our responsibilities.

As a former U.S. Ambassador to Latvia, I have lived in Putin’s shadow. I have seen with my own eyes what the threat of Russian aggression means. I know firsthand what’s at stake.

It is not just the Latvians who are concerned. The events in western Ukraine continue to send shockwaves across the region. Putin’s desire to reclaim territory formerly part of Greater Russia includes Ukraine, the Baltic States and parts of Eastern Europe. This is a possibility that America and other Western democracies cannot pretend isn’t real.

Sen. Paul's stance give Moscow the green light

If Sen. Paul's myopic worldview prevails, it gives Moscow the green light it hopes for from the West to continue in its effort to bring eastern Ukraine back under its thumb. It also encourages other dictatorial regimes like China, North Korea and Iran to embark on a strategy for territorial expansion that relies on force.

Sen. Rand Paul: Anytime McConnell wants to debate his Ukraine first policy with me in Kentucky—bring it on.

This would not be in America’s best interest. The world is our storefront, our warehouse, our trading floor and our production facility. There are very few places, especially in the industrialized world and among emerging economies, where our interests are not present and clear.

More than that, we share with all humankind the desire for individual self-determination so that we may live free from fear, want and aggression. We’ve fought this out before in what George Washington surely would have numbered as being among the “messy foreign entanglements” he warned against in his farewell address.

Yet can anyone say America, or the world for that matter, is worse off because we chose to engage? We are a global power and reap the benefits of our status. But that conveys with it the responsibility to help maintain an enlightened global order.

America withdraws from this fight at its own peril

As the saying goes, "You can pay now, or you can pay later. It’s up to you.” We know where appeasement leads. It is no less dangerous than the domestic concerns Sen. Paul argued should take precedence. We should focus more on the problems associated with a porous Southern border, crime and inflation. But we are America. We can carry a big stick and deal with those other issues simultaneously.

Mitch McConnell: National security bill could make historic investment in Ukraine – and Kentucky

Sen. Mitch McConnell, and I don't agree on everything, is right about the need to provide aid to Ukraine. Calling out the members of his own party, including Sen. Paul, who want to block aid to Ukraine is an act of political courage, especially in these difficult times. Foreign aid is often necessary but rarely popular. This is the tough choice a leader must sometimes make. I am grateful he has.

Since the end of the Cold War, America has enjoyed the benefits of global leadership—security, prosperity and freedom—while brokering peace and deterring the aggression of rogue regimes. I'm proud that Kentucky has a leader in Washington, like Sen. McConnell, who understands that the enemies of freedom will fill the void if America does not choose to lead the world.

Louisville resident Cathy Bailey served as United States Ambassador to Latvia during the administration of President George W. Bush

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Ukraine needs American aid. Rand Paul is wrong about wanting to end it