March 31, 2017

More

“…a resurgent Russia has turned from partner to antagonist. Countries along Russia’s periphery, especially Ukraine and Georgia, are under threat from Moscow’s malign influence and military aggression.

“…Moscow intends to re-emerge as a global power, and views international norms such as the rule of law, democracy and human rights as components of a system designed to suppress it. Therefore, Russia seeks to undermine this international system and discredit those in the West who have created it. …

“Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, including occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea, and actions in Syria underscore its willingness to use military force to exert its influence in Europe and the Middle East. In Ukraine, Russia’s willingness to foment a bloody conflict into its third year through the use of proxy forces in the Donbas, and elsewhere, is deeply troubling to our allies and partners, particularly Russia’s closest neighbors. …

“Together with forces from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the U.K. and Canada, using State Department-provided Foreign Military Financing and Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds, EUCOM [United States European Command] trains, advises and equips Ukraine security forces, helping them build the capacity to defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity. Our team, working through the Multinational Joint Commission, has developed Ukraine’s institutional training capability so that Ukraine can create a NATO-interoperable armed force. Our efforts include the training of both conventional and special operations units, as well as advising Ukraine on defense reform priorities. …”

– Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, commander, U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, testifying before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee on March 23.

“Three years ago this month, Russia illegally annexed Crimea and laid the groundwork for its campaign to destabilize Ukraine. That moment marked the end of a period of more than 20 years when the countries of the West looked to Russia as a partner. …Russia’s aggression against Ukraine – including the first changing of borders by force in Europe since World War II – represented a new strategic reality, and a wake-up call for the United States and its NATO Allies.

“That new strategic reality is even starker today: Russia has not only continued to undermine the post-World War II and post-Cold War international order – an order based on respect for the sovereignty of nations, and the rule of law – through its illegal occupation of Crimea and its ongoing war of aggression in eastern Ukraine; Russia has also engaged in political aggression against our societies, using cyber-attacks, disinformation, propaganda and influence operations (what the Soviets called ‘active measures’) to affect the outcome of elections and to undermine confidence in our democratic institutions.

“In essence, Russia is trying to undo decades of progress toward a more stable and integrated Euro-Atlantic community. It wants to turn back the clock to a time when Russia dominated neighboring countries through force and coercion. Using military intimidation, economic warfare and ‘active measures,’ it aims to weaken and divide NATO and the European Union, which it sees as the main obstacles to its expanded power in Europe…

“To achieve a more stable and constructive relationship with Moscow that is sustainable for the long term, we must speak with Russia from a position of strength. …

“NATO has been engaged for many years in assisting Georgia and Ukraine to carry out defense reforms, to raise the proficiency of their armed forces, and to bring them closer to NATO standards. Since 2014, NATO has expanded these efforts through the Substantial NATO Georgia Package and Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine, and it has deployed a team of resident defense advisors to each country. But both these efforts are relatively under-resourced in comparison to European Union efforts in the police and judicial sectors, and I recommend that the Trump administration push for their expansion.

“Bilaterally, the U.S. has provided non-lethal defensive weapons assistance to Ukraine, and together with Canada, offered valuable training to Ukrainian armed forces. This has helped them prevent further Russian incursions in the Donbas. We should consider expanding this support both quantitatively and qualitatively, to include lethal defensive weapons such as anti-tank weapons and air defenses, if Russia continues its aggression in eastern Ukraine. …”

– Former NATO Deputy Secretary General (2012-2016) Alexander Vershbow, testifying on March 21, during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearings on U.S. Policy and Strategy in Europe.

“Today, in yet another brazen act of Russian state terrorism, former Russia parliamentarian Denis Voronenkov was assassinated in broad daylight on the streets of Kyiv. This horrific crime marks the continuation of a campaign of KGB-style brutality designed to intimidate anyone who dares to oppose the tyranny of Vladimir Putin. Denis Voronenkov spoke out against Putin’s reign of terror and his illegal invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea. He was also assisting Ukrainian prosecutors with the treason case against former Ukrainian president and Putin stooge, Viktor Yanukovych. Sadly, Denis Voronenkov has joined others like Sergei Magnitsky and Boris Nemtsov who have paid with their lives for speaking the truth, for in Putin’s Russia, there is no greater crime.”

– Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in a statement on March 23 about the killing of Denis Voronenkov.

Comments are closed.