Opinion: We must do everything we can to prevent war in Ukraine

Ukrainian Military Forces servicemen of the 92nd mechanized brigade use tanks, self-propelled guns and other armored vehicles to conduct live-fire exercises near the town of Chuguev, in the Kharkiv region, on February 10, 2022. - Russia's deployment for a military exercise in Belarus and on the borders of Ukraine marks a "dangerous moment" for European security, NATO's chief said on February 10, 2022. — Ukrainian Military Forces servicemen of the 92nd mechanized brigade use tanks, self-propelled guns and other armored vehicles to conduct live-fire exercises near the town of Chuguev, in the Kharkiv region, on February 10, 2022. – Russia’s deployment for a military exercise in Belarus and on the borders of Ukraine marks a “dangerous moment” for European security, NATO’s chief said on February 10, 2022.

It was 100 years ago when U.S. newspapers were printing appeals from farmers in the Ukraine, who were struggling to grow crops amid the Great Russian Famine. Conflict and drought had led to severe food shortages in the Ukraine. People were starving to death. Many more would have if the United States had not responded with food donations.

A letter from a farmer in Berdiansk, Ukraine, read, “We were not always poor, that came to us suddenly. But we hope that we will survive the present historic moment and will be able to repay for the help you have given us. We pinned our hopes on this year’s harvest, but again the crops have suffered from drought and that hope, alas, has vanished.”

American generosity with food aid helped save the Ukraine during the famine.

Now 100 years later we must again come to the aid of the Ukraine. Russian troops are invading. We must continue to work for peace. Lives are on the line. If Russian President Vladimir Putin continues the escalation, it will lead to a massive humanitarian crisis.

There are already close to 3 million civilians needing humanitarian aid in eastern Ukraine from the years of conflict with Russian-backed rebels. Their plight will grow much worse with a larger invasion. There will be millions more civilians facing displacement and hunger.

A man shows a poster in support of Ukraine as he attends a demonstration along the street near the Russian embassy to protest against the escalation of the tension between Russia and Ukraine in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022.

Refugees will flee to neighboring countries in Europe, and will need urgent food and shelter. War will inevitably lead to food shortages. Deadly malnutrition will threaten small children. It is children who will pay a heavy price for any escalation of war in the Ukraine. Charities like the World Food Program, UNICEF, CARE and Save the Children will likely have to respond quickly to an urgent situation.

“Save the Children is gravely concerned for children who might be caught in the middle of this armed conflict, forced from their homes in sub-zero temperatures, and exposed to injury, hunger and cold. Children must be protected from harm at all times,” said Irina Saghoyan, Save the Children’s Eastern Europe director.

The Russian people will also slide further into poverty, having to support Putin’s military aggression. They should demand a leader that pursues peace instead of robbing their precious resources for needless war.

We must do everything we can to prevent the war in Ukraine. We must also be prepared to provide humanitarian aid in the worst case scenario.

A young woman holds a weapon during a basic combat training for civilians, organized by the Special Forces Unit Azov, of Ukraine's National Guard, in Mariupol, Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. The United States is evacuating almost all of the staff from its embassy in Kyiv as Western intelligence officials warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is increasingly imminent. — A young woman holds a weapon during a basic combat training for civilians, organized by the Special Forces Unit Azov, of Ukraine’s National Guard, in Mariupol, Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. The United States is evacuating almost all of the staff from its embassy in Kyiv as Western intelligence officials warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is increasingly imminent.

One hundred years after the people of Ukraine wrote letters asking for food, there is another plea coming. They are now asking for peace. They are tired of war.

“On my visits to eastern Ukraine, I hear people repeat the same plea over and over. They want hostilities to stop. They want not to fear for their lives any longer,” said Osnat Lubrani, the United Nations’ humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine.

Peace is imperative for Ukraine to prevent a humanitarian tragedy. We must continue to urge calm and reason while taking a firm stand against Russian military action. We must convince Putin and Russia that there is only one good road to choose: peace.

William Lambers is an author who partnered with the UN World Food Program on the book “Ending World Hunger.” His writings have been published by the Washington Post, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Newsweek and many other news outlets.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Opinion: We must do everything we can to prevent war in Ukraine