US Official Nuland: US Committed to Ukraine

At a time when the Ukrainian nation is engulfed in a war for its political and national existence with its age-old enemy Russia, resolute words of genuine support from the United States are very welcome.

By standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians in their time of need, Washington sent clear messages to Ukraine's leadership, the people and Russia.

Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, in her testimony on July 7 before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reassured Kyiv of US support and warned Russia of dire consequences of its invasion of Ukraine.

“Ukraine’s success or failure in its struggle for peace, reconciliation and human dignity will impact the future of the whole region, and with it, the prospect of achieving America’s 20-year objective of a Europe whole, free and at peace. We therefore continue to have a profound national interest in supporting the people of Ukraine in their quest for a more stable, democratic and prosperous future. In this effort, we deeply appreciate Congress’ bipartisan attention and support.” Nuland said.

Nuland listed four so-called pillars of US policy toward Ukraine:

Support for Ukraine as it tackles urgent political, economic and security challenges;

Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis and to encourage Russia to end support for separatists;

Readiness to impose further costs – including targeted sectoral sanctions – on Russia and separatists for fomenting violence and unread in Ukraine; and

Reassurance of frontline NATO allies and friends like Georgia and Moldova.

She said the election of Petro Poroshenko bodes well for Ukraine’s future and praised the “determination and courage” of Ukrainians who voted for him and his policies.

“But Ukraine’s security remains under threat: despite regaining control of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, fierce fighting continues to rage in parts of eastern Ukraine; heavy weapons, materiel and support have flown across the Russian border; Russia has thousands troops deployed on Ukraine’s eastern border, and Crimea remains under occupation,” she observed.

Nuland said the US is working with Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk to direct some $59 million to support for economic growth and reform; counter corruption; energy diversification and efficiency; and constitutional reform and national unity.

“Our anti-corruption support will help the government implement its recently announced three-year anti-corruption strategy and six-month action plan by bolstering Ukraine’s ability to deter, detect, investigate and prosecute corruption wherever it festers; and by supporting citizens, civil society, media, business and the government as they work together to confront this scourge,” she said.

“And we will help the government with the constitutional reform and broad decentralization of power that President Poroshenko has pledged as an integral part of his peace plan and his effort to rebuild national unity. This will include support and advice at the federal, regional and local level to implement political reform and decentralization, and support for free and fair parliamentary elections when they are called.”

Nuland said the US is in “lock-step” with Ukrainian government in trying to deescalate the crisis caused by Russian-backed mercenaries. She noted Poroshenko one-sided ceasefire and castigated Russia for failing to abide by it.

“The ceasefire was instead met with 10 days of violence, bloodshed and land grabs by Russian-backed separatists. Three Ukrainian border posts fell into their hands during this period. Russia allowed tanks, heavy artillery and fighters to flow across the border, and continued to build up its forces and weapons on Ukraine’s border,” she said.

 Quoting President Obama, Nuland pointed out that the US will judge Russia not by its words but by its actions.

“Russia has made too many commitments at the diplomatic table over the past four months that have been rendered hollow by the weapons, cash and fighters that continue to flow across the border to fuel the fight in eastern Ukraine. In response, the U.S. and Europe have imposed repeated rounds of sanctions to increase the cost Russia pays for its choices,” Nuland said, adding a warning that “we are ready to impose more costs – including targeted sector-specific sanctions – very soon if Russia does not decisively change course and break its ties with separatists.”

Additional sanctions will continue to impose significant damage on Russia’s economy even though Putin is denying any ill effects.

“As Russia’s economy teeters on the brink of recession in part from the cost of its actions in Ukraine and the impact of the U.S. and international response as noted in last week’s IMF report, Russians need to ask themselves what their government’s policy has really delivered for them or the people of Ukraine except economic hardship, violence, kidnapping, and death. In Crimea, inflation has risen to 16.8 percent, tourism down 35%, and exports are plummeting. In Donetsk and Luhansk, separatists have engaged in looting and bank robbery, prevented the payment of pensions and wages, and held much of the civilian population hostage in their homes. Now that separatists are on the run, their tactics have become even more brutal as they set up landmines and roadside bombs and destroy bridges and other critical infrastructure,” she said.