Impose Crippling Sanctions on Russia Now

For all intents and purposes, Ukraine has been at war with Russia since mid-January. While the launch of this war has been inevitable considering Russia’s insatiable appetite to re-subjugate Ukraine and other former captive nations, it was unexpected in its timing, ferocity and arrogance.

Undoubtedly planned well before the farcical Winter Olympics in Sochi, Vladimir Putin contemptuously participated in the opening of the peaceful global athletic tournament knowing that he is on the verge of defying several international covenants. That was reminiscent of the scene from the movie “Godfather,” during which Michael Corleone recites the Credo during the Christening his godchild while assassins carry out his orders to murder his enemies.

After seizing Crimea, Russia’s ground war against Ukraine in the eastern and southeastern regions progressed better than Ukraine’s efforts to repel the Russian invaders – until the election of Petro Poroshenko.

Within a few days of his election, Poroshenko announced a unilateral ceasefire that was welcomed by the international community. Russia, on the other hand, rejected this olive branch and its terrorists continued with their killings.

But President Poroshenko turned out to be a different Ukrainian president. He quickly demonstrated leadership, determination, courage, vision and patriotism. He suspended the truce and ordered the Ukrainian Armed Forces, National Guard and volunteer battalions to attack and liberate occupied regions. They did. The war with Russia entered a new phase, a turning point, as Poroshenko said. Success was costly and hard fought but town-by-town Ukrainian victories were recorded.

As Dmytro Tymchuk reported on Inforesist.com, Ukrainian servicemen continue to block militants in the Donetsk region and set up new checkpoints. The spokesman of the Anti-Terrorist Operations (ATO) Vladislav Seleznev reported on his Facebook page: “Units of the National Guard of Ukraine completed clearing (from terrorists – ed.) of Seversk and other settlements near Luhansk, taking them under their control. These measures ensure safety of civilians of the region and create conditions for a speedy restoration of the constitutional order and the rule of law in these regions in eastern Ukraine.”

Tymchuk added that active operations of the ATO forces continue in other directions.

Poroshenko on July 14 accused Russian military staff officers of fighting alongside separatists in the east of the country and said a newly-developed Russian missile system was being used against government forces. Earlier in the week the Grad rocket launcher bombarded a military post, killing more than two dozen Ukrainian soldiers.

“Information has been confirmed that Russian staff officers are taking part in military operations against Ukrainian forces,” Poroshenko said, adding to his earlier charges of movements of heavy military equipment into Ukraine from Russia.

Earlier today, National and Security Council spokesman Andriy Lysenko told journalists that Russia was building up forces on its border with Ukraine, and separatists, backed by Russian “mercenaries,” were firing on Ukrainian border guards in an attempt to bring armored vehicles into the country.

Accusing Russia of embarking on a course of escalation in Ukraine's eastern regions, Lysenko said: “In the past 24 hours, deployment of (Russian) units and military equipment across the border from the Sumy and Luhansk border points was noticed. The Russian Federation continues to build up troops on the border.”

Columns of Russian tanks and other armored equipment, under the Russian flag, were seen crossing the Ukrainian border, more evidence for those in denial that Russia is continuing to invade Ukraine.

Ukraine’s battlefield victories began to raise concerns among Kyiv’s allies and supporters. Some countries, like the USA, didn’t reprimand Ukraine but expressed hope that its response would be measured.

With its mercenaries routed from many locations, Russia felt the pain of Ukraine’s success and Putin began to demand the truce he rejected earlier. Germany’s Angela Merkel also insisted that Poroshenko declare a truce lest her best friend Putin endures more losses or even – God forbid – defeat and embarrassment. Both met before the World Cup final and discussed Ukraine, urging Poroshenko to temper his military’s reaction.

Putin has been playing what NATO’s secretary general correctly termed a “double game,” telling the global community that he favors peace while doing the opposite in Ukraine.

Today, Ukraine deserves and needs the full support of the United States and the European Union. A weak response from Kyiv’s allies will only reinforce Russia’s commitment to its quest to re-subjugate Ukraine and the ex-captive nations.

As the Washington Post wrote on July 10:

“If he has been surprised by Mr. Poroshenko’s grit, then Mr. Putin can only be encouraged by the fecklessness of the European Union and the United States. At the end of June, the allies promised tough sanctions against Russia if Moscow did not immediately stop its support of the rebels. Secretary of State John F. Kerry breathlessly declared on June 26 that Russia had to move within ‘hours’ to disarm its proxies. Two weeks later, the promised ‘sectoral’ sanctions on Russian industries have not been adopted, even though Western governments agree that Mr. Putin has not met any of their conditions. Instead, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande are leaning on Mr. Poroshenko to stop trying to regain control over his country.

“To their credit, senators from both parties voiced frustration with the Obama administration’s continued passivity at a Foreign Relations Committee hearing Wednesday. ‘What are we waiting for?’ asked Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ). Administration officials predicted that the oft-promised sanctions would come ‘very soon’ if Russia did not change course — perhaps following a European Union summit meeting next week. But the White House has not committed itself to unilateral action if the European Union falters.

“The administration is not wrong to prefer joint action with the Europeans if it is achievable. But the United States has the power to impose crippling unilateral sanctions on Russia, especially through the banking system. If the Ukrainian government can act without the permission of France and Germany, so can the United States.”

Indeed, don’t delay crippling, punitive sanctions on Russia, or else Ukraine will be lost and future generations will ask why we allowed it to happen on our watch.