It is an undoubtedly good and positive thing for America and the world to witness unvarnished courage and bravery.  That’s what we are seeing from the Ukrainian people and their indomitable president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

From the beginning, President Zelensky has made clear his intent—and that of his countrymen—to fight the barbaric and unjustified invasion of his country by the Russians.  When asked if he wanted a plane ride out of the country to safety for himself and his family he flatly refused saying “I don’t need a ride.  I need anti-tank ammunition.”  His strong, faithful wife also stated her position clearly.  “My husband will never abandon his country and I’m not leaving my husband.  And my children are not going anywhere without me.”

There are also a number of reports of Russian casualties due to the proud and ferocious resistance of the Ukrainian military and that Putin miscalculated how difficult his invasion of Ukraine would be.

As the situation worsens hourly—Zelensky this week witnessed Russian forces destroy a fully active Ukrainian maternity hospital as local officials use mass graves to bury thousands—he acknowledged that “the enemy has designated me as target number one, and my family as target number two,” he said of wife Olena Zelenska, their son, Kiril, and daughter, Aleksandra.  He concluded a call with leaders of the European Union last week with the chilling statement that “this might be the last time you see me alive.”

Zelensky has also made clear he won’t accept a settlement on Russian terms which would mean the slavery and subjugation of his country and his people.

One writer, Steve Brown, describes the stark personal choice Zelensky faces as clearly and powerfully as I’ve seen:

When you know …

That likely you will not live to see your children grow up. …

That you will never be able to retire with your precious wife …

That you may well be dead before Christmas …

That no one from the Free World is sending military to help you or your people …

That your only hope is a prayer … And …

That prayer is that the Lord of Hosts will supernaturally intervene. …

And, that your will is set.  You will not leave your people and will go down with the ship.

That courage calls for the Body of Christ worldwide to cry out to the God of all mercy to assign Angel Armies to be deployed and engage the forces of hell to save Ukraine and stop the slaughter of the innocents.  So be it, dear Lord, so be it. … Thy kingdom come …Thy will be done … on earth AS it is in Heaven.  Amen.

This kind of courage is simply breathtaking, and deeply inspiring.

While the U.S. and other Western countries have provided military equipment, munitions, and other aid, they can and should do more—such as sending Polish fighter jets, which will be flown by Ukrainian fighter pilots, to Ukraine.  We could also quickly and easily provide S-300 surface-to-air-missile systems, helping Ukraine create its own “no fly zone” over its beautiful country and people.

In his powerfully emotional address to the U.S. Congress last week, President Zelensky stated that “the destiny of our country is being decided.” He implored America and the free world to “keep justice in history.”

It’s time for NATO and the west to move.