Ambassador Power in Ukraine: Russia Underestimated Ukrainians’ Resilience

It is safe to say that there has not been another American official who understands the plight of Ukraine so precisely as Samantha Power, the US Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Even before visiting Ukraine last week, Power, an Irish American academic, journalist, author, diplomat and Cabinet official, earned the admiration of Ukrainians around the world for her steadfast support of Ukrainian independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Seated at the circular table of the UN Security Council, she never hid behind diplomatic courtesies in responding to Russian fabrications about its invasion of Ukraine. Power convincingly pointed her finger at Russia’s Permanent Representative Vitaly Churkin when accusing Moscow of launching the brutal, bloody war against a peaceful neighbor.

At the same time, Power is respected for her support for the downtrodden wherever they live and a host of contemporary sustainable issues.

No wonder, President Poroshenko quipped to her in Kyiv: “You cannot even imagine how famous you are in Ukraine.”

And not only in Ukraine.

During her trip to Ukraine, Power had the opportunity to witness first hand Ukraine’s difficult evolution from Russian subjugation through homegrown crooks and traitors and finally to today’s clear course toward national sovereignty, democracy, wellbeing and European integration. She appreciates that the past 24 years have not been a walk in the park for Ukrainians and their nationally-minded elected officials because Russia has been shadowing their every step in the hope of catching Kyiv unaware and then re-subjugating it behind a restored iron curtain.

She also had the opportunity to experience the devastating effect of Russia’s war against Ukraine that so far has claimed some 6,500 lives as well as the high moral commitment of everyday Ukrainians and their brave fighting men and women to defeat the enemy and resume their peaceful, democratic transition from slaves to free people. She honored the memory of the martyred Maidan defenders in Kyiv and felt in her soul that the issue was not speaking or not speaking Russian or Ukrainian but living as Ukrainians without regard for language and faith so long as it is without Russian interference.

Samantha Power expressed many powerful words and assurances to the Ukrainian nation but perhaps the most indicative of her views and America’s policy were articulated in the phrase: “The United States are with you as you fight on two fronts: countering Russian aggression and building an open, responsive government.” She emphasized that Washington supports Ukrainians and Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty “in the face of Russia’s hostile actions in eastern Ukraine and continuing occupation of Crimea.”

Here are some more of Power’s supportive declarations made in Ukraine:

Speech to Ukrainian nation June 11

“Building a system of new rules will never depend on what your government does, but rather on what you (Ukrainians) make it do, and what you do yourselves.”

“You are not alone. The US have never left your side, and will not leave your side.”

“If Russia continues to disregard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and if Russia continues to violate the rules upon which international peace and security rest, then the United States will continue to raise the costs on Russia. And we will continue to rally other countries to do the same, reminding them that their silence or inaction in the face of Russian aggression will not placate Moscow; it will only embolden it.”

“But there is something more important that is often lost in the international discussion about Russia’s efforts to impose its will on Ukraine. And that is you – the people of Ukraine – and your right to determine the course of your own country’s future.”

“It is about restoring your voice – a voice too often ignored by corrupt politicians, oligarchs, and foreign powers. Or, as one of the great rallying cries of the Maidan put it: Ukrayina po-nad u-se! Ukraine above all else!”

“Maidan was made in Ukraine. A Ukraine of university students and veterans of the Afghan war. Of Ukrainian, Russian, and Tatar speakers. Of Christians, Muslims, and Jews.”

“Maidan was not just about reversing a cynical political decision or unseating a single kleptocratic government. Instead, it was about dismantling a generations-old system that kept producing rotten decisions, broken institutions, and corrupt leaders – and it was about replacing it with one that was accountable to the Ukrainian people.”

“But the Kremlin made a very serious miscalculation: it underestimated your resilience and your willingness to unite to help your fellow citizens. And it underestimated your tenacious determination to fix a broken system.”

“To understand what is meant by Ukrainian solidarity, look at the countless civil society groups that have sprung up to respond to the massive humanitarian crisis produced by Russian aggression.”

“The Kremlin also underestimated your resolve to see through the process you started on the Maidan – to build a system that answers to you, the Ukrainian people, rather than to the oligarchs or to Moscow.”

“These new members of government – together with civil society – are pushing for greater transparency.”

“Hard as it is, remember what is at stake – not only for yourselves, but for generations of Ukrainians to come. Remember that the yearning to have a voice – which brought so many Ukrainians out to the Maidan, and resonated with so many millions more – the cry of Hid-nist! Hid-nist! Dignity! Dignity! – is just as powerful now as it was then.”

“That means that Ukraine is stronger when it listens to those calling on its military to respect international law while defending its people from attacks by combined Russian-separatist forces – even as its enemies ignore those same standards. It means that Ukraine should zealously protect freedom of the press, including for its most outspoken and biased critics – indeed, especially for its most outspoken and biased critics – even as the so-called separatists expel journalists from the territory they control, and even as Russia shutters Tatar media outlets in occupied Crimea. It means that politicians and police across the country should recognize how crucial it is that people be able to march to demand respect for LGBT rights and the rights of other vulnerable groups without fear of being attacked. And it means that the Ukrainian government should do everything in its power to get humanitarian aid to the civilians trapped along the line of contact and those struggling to survive in separatist-controlled areas, as well as to ensure the swift freedom of movement across the line for humanitarian actors.”

“The United States will continue to press tirelessly for Nadiya's (Nadiya Savchenko) release, as well as the release of all Ukrainians who are being held illegally by the so-called separatists and by Russia.”

“The Ukrainian people are one-of-a-kind, but the situation you find yourselves in is not. People around the world find themselves facing similarly daunting obstacles: corrupt politicians, rotten institutions, powerful oligarchs, and even aggressive neighboring countries intent on meddling in their sovereign affairs. And these people are watching you. They learned from your stand on the Maidan. And they are learning from the struggle that you are waging right now – to build a democracy from the grassroots up.”

About the United Nations

“We can’t get out of the (UN) Security Council what we need, and the Security Council doesn’t live up to its responsibilities because it has given a country – that is an aggressor – in 2014 and 2015 this privilege of having a veto, but we can work through other mechanisms.”

"And the other mechanism … is Western democracy, is Europe and the United States, and others who have – within their power – the ability to stand up for these norms and to put in place measures that will definitely take their toll on the Russian economy in the first instance and – over time – will take their toll on the Russian calculus.”

About Crimea

“The United Nations is documenting what is happening in Crimea. We always emphasize, that, although, the focus now is on the situation in the east of Ukraine, we will never forget about Crimea, and will not stop until Crimea is back under the control of Ukraine.”

“Crimea will remain in our thoughts and in our hearts, and in all our dialogues with the Russian Federation.”

“On all maps the United Nations, Crimea will remain a part of Ukraine, where it should be, and this, believe me, enrages Russia.”

Interview with BBC

“I am very sorry for the Ukrainian government because of what is happening in the country in the past year and a half, because all of this time Russia is trying to turn every aggravation of the situation in the East is somewhat bigger, capturing town after town.”

“Our main task is to try to isolate Russia so that Putin’s conduct changes.”

“The G-7 made it clear that the United States and leading European countries are ready to introduce more stringent sanctions in the event of further aggression.”

“It is important to shame Russia, it is important to tell the truth and it is important that Russia not only feel pressure from the United States that will always be close to the Ukraine, but also the voices from Africa and other regions of the world that are as outraged by the actions of Russia in Ukraine, as United States.”

Polish Newspaper

“America clearly sees the truth about the destabilizing actions of the Russian Federation in Ukraine.”

“How I'd love to have veto power over their (Russia’s) veto.”

Witnessing Ukraine’s Freedom Mission

During her brief trip to Ukraine, Samantha Power witnessed the Ukrainian nation endeavoring like no other country in history to defend itself against a vicious aggressor, build a democratic life for itself, encourage nascent NGOs to take an active role in civic affairs, and purge the country of internal and external corruption and traitors. She witnessed Ukraine’s genuine achievements, dreams and nightmares. And she saw that Kyiv is striving to fulfill this mission without wide foreign support but unfortunately with a great deal of cynics and naysayers.

At the end of her speech and visit, Ambassador Power reached into the not-too-distant past and cited the heroic Ukrainian poet and national activist Vasyl Stus, who was persecuted by the Soviet Russian regime, and spent 23 years behind bars, where he died in 1985.

“Ukraine, you may still be bleeding from pain,” she said, “but you are strong and defined. And if you stay strong together, no kleptocrat, no oligarch, no foreign power can stop you.”

Too bad that Samantha Power is not vying for the Presidency of the United States. She would find many ardent supporters among Americans of Ukrainian and other Eastern European descent.

Don’t Stop Until Ukraine Has Democracy, Territorial Integrity, Sovereignty

Ambassador Samantha Power, US Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has been an ardent supporter of Ukraine as it has been forced to defend itself against blatant Russian aggression. Power does not shirk from any occasion to refute Russian lies about its invasion of Ukraine and the 15-month-old Russo-Ukraine War of 2014-15. In the Security Council of the UN, she regularly challenges and disproves every fabrication uttered by the Russian Permanent Representative Vitaly Churkin, oftentimes overlooking diplomatic niceties.

In the aftermath of Russia’s escalation of its war with Ukraine last week and the intensification of fighting in Maryinka and Krasnohorivka, Power forthrightly assured her Russian counterpart and Security Council colleagues that the fight in defense of Ukraine will not end inconclusively. There is a definite mission and goal, she declared.

“The consequences of Russia’s contempt for Minsk and the rules undergirding our international peace and security are too great – both for the integrity of the international system, and for the rights and welfare of the Ukrainian people. We cannot fail to see and fail to act. We must not stop applying pressure until Ukrainians get the stable democracy, the territorial integrity, and sovereignty they yearn for and deserve,” Power said during another special Security Council meeting on Ukraine on Friday, June 5.

Her eloquent support for Ukraine should only be matched by other leaders of the free world, who unfortunately display far less mettle. Power is heading to Ukraine on a fact-finding mission this week and we look forward to reading her eye witness account of what she sees.

Among other her other observations made at the Security Council meeting, Power said Russian forces launched on June 3 multiple, coordinated attacks west of the Minsk line of contact in Donetsk. They were definitely concentrated on the towns of Maryinka and Krasnohorivka, she said.

Russia and its terrorist allies offered multiple – often conflicting – explanations for these attacks, she said tongue in cheek.

But this set of arguments, Power continued, has been undermined by some of the mercenaries themselves, who seem to have forgotten to run their tweets and their blog posts by Moscow for approval. During the attacks, one tweeted, “‘Maryinka is ours!’ – posting a photo of armed soldiers atop a tank flying the separatists’ flag. A post on a separatist website said, “‘As a result of a massive attack by [DPR] armed forces, Maryinka has been liberated.’”

The problem with the terrorists’ line of argument that Maryinka and Krasnohorivka are internal – or occupied towns – quite simply, is that it is false, Power said. “At no point did the Minsk Agreements recognize Maryinka and Krasnohorivka as separatist-controlled territory. Nor did they grant the separatists control over Debaltseve or other areas combined Russian-separatist forces have seized, or tried to seize. Yet for Russia and the separatists, it seems the contact line can shift to include the territories that they feel they deserve.”

Power pointed out that objective eyes in eastern Ukraine belong only to the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission, the SMM. “And what they tell us is that, on the evening of June 2nd and early morning of June 3rd, ‘SMM observed the movement of a large amount of heavy weapons in DPR-controlled areas – generally in a westerly direction toward the contact line – close to Maryinka, preceding and during the fighting.’ So, to repeat: according to the SMM, heavy weapons from the Russian-backed separatist side moved westward ‘preceding as well as during the fighting.’”

She said these and other joint attacks by Russian forces have had deadly consequences.

“At least five Ukrainian soldiers were killed, and 38 wounded, in the assault on the towns. The number of casualties is surely higher, but we do not, unfortunately, have reliable reports from the separatists’ side. That is because, as the UN’s Human Rights Monitoring Unit noted in its May 15th report, independent media have been prosecuted, threatened, and otherwise muzzled in separatist-controlled territory.

“We also do not know how many Russian soldiers were killed in recent attacks – or in any of their operations in eastern Ukraine, for that matter. Russia continues – despite incidents such as the recent capture of two special operations Russian soldiers in Schastya last month – to deny any military involvement in eastern Ukraine.”

Putin continues to violate the right of the bereaved of Russians killed in action in Ukraine by depriving them of information of their fate, Power noted.

“Just last week, President Putin signed a decree classifying any death of Russian soldiers in ‘special operations’ in peacetime a state secret, a policy which previously was limited to wartime only. Not content with denying their military service in life, Russia now denies their loved ones the respect and closure – not to mention social services – for their service in death. And it denies the Russian people knowledge to which they are entitled – of a conflict their government has been fueling with weapons, training, and soldiers. No matter what your opinion of the open secret that is Russia’s military involvement in eastern Ukraine and occupied Crimea, the dignified recognition of one’s dead should have primacy.”

But suffering is hardly limited to those involved in the fighting, Power said.

“Civilians living near and along the front lines continue to endure profound hardship. Approximately 1.3 million Ukrainians have been displaced by the fighting. Small children on the front lines have gotten used to going to school and sleeping in basements. Families live underground for months at a time. The elderly and disabled are trapped with little access to vital medicine and other forms of assistance. A health professional working in Debaltseve said, ‘I’ve met elderly people who say that they would just like to die. They don’t have depression; they just don’t want to be 80 years old and living in a basement.’”

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine follows what Power called Moscow’s playbook of occupying foreign lands or, in other words, how Russia repeats its own imperial history.

“By now, the international community is quite familiar with Russia’s playbook when it comes to efforts to occupy the territory of its sovereign neighbors – as it did in Crimea, and before that in Transnistria, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia. The consensus here, and in the international community, remains that Minsk’s implementation is the only viable way out of this deadly conflict.”

Power also offered praise for the Ukrainian government’s efforts to address crime and corruption.

“The Ukrainian government has made good faith efforts to honor that consensus – notwithstanding the seemingly endless violations by Russia and the separatists – and deliver on the commitments made at Minsk. Ukraine is holding direct dialogue with the separatists, a bitter pill to swallow, but one they have swallowed for the sake of peace and for the sake of the implementation of the Minsk Agreements. At the same time, Ukraine has undertaken critical efforts, with the participation of Ukrainian civil society, to address pervasive problems it inherited from its predecessors, like widespread corruption, as well as to pursue crucial reforms such as decentralization. Ukraine cooperates with the international monitors and bodies, and has committed to address identified areas of concern. The United States will continue to raise tough issues and these areas of concern, including some raised here today by the briefers, with the Government of Ukraine, and we will support the government and Ukrainian people as they continue their efforts toward meaningful reform.”

While Russia arms its mercenaries and escalates the war, Power criticized the Security Council and the world for turning a blind eye.

“Yet Russia – and the separatists it trains, arms, fights alongside, and with whom it shares command and control systems in eastern Ukraine – continues to ignore this consensus, flouting the commitments it made at Minsk. It goes right on applying its playbook in new territories – as though this Council and the world are too blind, or too easily deceived to notice.”

Can the Free World Launch New D-Day to Rid Ukraine of Russia?

Seventy-one years ago, the free world, feeling that the time was ripe for an endgame to drive Nazi Germany’s armies from Europe and defeat Hitler’s plans for world domination, launched the historic, multi-national D-Day invasion of occupied France.

It took 11 months of blood-and-guts warfare for Gen. Dwight Eisenhower’s armies to push the Nazi armies back to Berlin and force Germany to sign an unconditional surrender that halted the killings and crimes against humanity and brought peace and stability to Europe.

The free world demonstrated political and military dedication, determination and the right stuff in mobilizing itself to defeat an enemy that had set sights on dominating the entire world.

So what’s changed in the ensuing seven decades with the free world’s dedication to freedom, democracy and national sovereignty? Why is the United States, the European Union, and NATO hiding behind tepid and ineffective threats and sanctions while Russia intensifies with impunity its war against Ukraine? Have Russia’s energy reserves, trade potential and nuclear weapons paralyzed the free world into blind hope about Moscow’s intentions and reprehensible ambitions about global domination?

The leaders of the free world, gathering now at the G-7 summit in Germany, have an opportunity to send Russia a forthright and most importantly united message that it will no longer tolerate its unrestrained arrogance and aggression. The threat against Ukraine and the free world is no less dangerous than was the threat against Poland, France and the free world seven decades ago.

Since earlier this spring, Russia has been massing its regular army and mercenary detachments along the border with the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts of Ukraine, raising the threat level not only against Ukraine but also the entire world. Simultaneously, Moscow is eroding the world’s confidence in its assurance to uphold peace and stability today.

Despite the imperfect Minsk Accords, Ukraine has been abiding by them while Russia has been conducting hit-and-run attacks against Ukrainian positions until last week, when fighting surged in the war zone. Ukrainian troops and Russian mercenaries fought their first serious battles in months.

The Ukrainian military said the Russian terrorists had tried to advance using tanks and up to 1,000 fighters west of the main rebel stronghold of Donetsk, in what was described in news stories as the most significant escalation of the conflict in about three months and in defiance of a ceasefire deal. Ukrainian military command called it a “large-scale offensive against Ukrainian positions.” Russian mercenaries claimed that 15 of their terrorists and civilians were killed but denied that they had started the new assault.

President Poroshenko reported to the Verkhovna Rada on June 4 that some 9,000 regular Russian soldiers are deployed in Donbas and warned of a “full-scale” Russian invasion of Ukraine. He said Ukraine has deployed 50,000 troops in the conflict zone to meet the threat. His address to parliament was one of the first times the Ukrainian commander-in-chief used the word “invasion” to refer to Russia’s assault since the start of the war, in which the United Nations has said more than 6,400 people have been killed.

“A colossal threat of renewal of full-scale military actions by the Russian terrorist groups remains. Now on the territory of Ukraine there are 14 Russian tactical groups with total number of personnel exceeding 9,000 servicemen. Concentration of the Russian servicemen near the state border is bigger by half than a year ago,” Poroshenko said. “The military must be ready as much for a renewal of an offensive by the enemy in the Donbas as they are for a full-scale invasion along the whole length of the border with Russia. We must be truly ready for this.”

Despite Moscow’s claims to the contrary, Russian mercenaries in the Russo-Ukraine War of 2014-15 are backed by thousands of regular Russian soldiers, which has been substantiated not only by Ukrainian government and military officials but also by NATO, the United Nations and even careless, boastful Russian troops. Certainly, the smoking gun has been Russian soldiers taken prisoner on Ukrainian territory and those convalescing in Ukrainian hospitals.

Fortunately for Ukraine, Poroshenko said Ukrainian forces successfully mopped up in Maryinka after repelling the rebel attack. He said Ukrainian soldiers ousted pro-Russia terrorists from that eastern town and captured 12 saboteurs, including one Russian. Ukrainian armed forces and the volunteer battalions have again proven their military skills, dedication, heroism and patriotism – features the Russian invaders lack.  

London’s Daily Mail confirmed Poroshenko’s statement by reporting that Ukrainian troops thwarted pro-Russian separatists’ attempt to take Maryinka as they fought their first serious battles in months.

The White House said President Obama spoke with Poroshenko last Friday about the war in Ukraine and both leaders expressed their “deep concern” about fighting near Donetsk and urged rebels to respect the Minsk ceasefire. Beyond listening and expressing concern, Obama is not prepared to offer greater aid to Ukraine.

Russia’s escalation of the 15-month unprovoked war with Ukraine threatens global peace and stability though not all world leaders are brave enough to admit it.

US officials have acknowledged that economic sanctions haven’t forced Putin to change his militant policies regarding Ukraine, and they voiced concerns about an increase in violence in Ukraine and the use of heavy weaponry that was restricted by the cease-fire deal.

“It’s clear the sanctions are working on the Russian economy, but what is not apparent is that that effect on his economy is deterring Putin from following the course that was evidenced in Crimea last year,” said Defense Secretary Ash Carter, noting that Russian aggression would be “an enduring challenge.”

Carter is one of the more vocal supporters of a hardline approach to dealing with Moscow because of its war against Ukraine. He has urged the US to increase the number of military exercises and training programs across Europe and strengthen NATO’s intelligence sharing to better counter Russian aggression in the region.

Carter also said the US and others are worried Putin would use similar tactics elsewhere in the region and is positioning Russia as a US adversary. That is a likely scenario given Russia’s hostility and the former captive nations’ preparations.

“There are other things we need to be doing in recognition of the fact that, at the moment at least, Vladimir Putin does not seem to be reversing course,” Carter told reporters. “Therefore we need to adapt, in a long-term sense, to that reality.”

Unfortunately, adapting to that reality means learning to live with it rather than working to change Putin and Russia.

Many in Congress also support a hardline position vis-à-vis Russia and helping Ukraine with additional aid. Among them is Sen. Bob Portman (R-OH), who recently returned from a fact-finding trip to Ukraine. Writing in The Cleveland Plain Dealer on May 31, Portman urged NATO to step up and help Ukraine. Without this aid, Ukraine will not be able to stave off Russian aggression and embark on a national course to democracy, wellbeing and national sovereignty.

Portman wrote: “Ukrainians have made incredible sacrifices in the hopes of securing a democratic future but they need sustained economic, political, and military support from the United States and NATO to ensure a successful future.

“They have also made an unequivocal choice to pursue a pro-Western, democratic path, and are making progress in fighting decades of corruption that left Ukraine weak, while dealing with a blatant Russian invasion. Successful follow-through on these reforms will be essential to the long-term success and prosperity of Ukraine.”

He concluded: “Our efforts must be part of a broader strategy to support regional allies and deter Russian aggression. We must demonstrate America's commitment to the security of our friends through a reinforced NATO presence in Eastern Europe and more vigorous engagement in training and security cooperation. President Putin's actions upend decades of established international norms and the response demonstrates the weakness of the Western alliance and America's leadership.

“Confidence in America and our European allies' commitment to uphold these norms deters bad actors and incentivizes other countries to play by the rules. If our credibility is in doubt, the chance for violence and instability increases. Nearly every Ukrainian official I met with understood this. It's time the White House did as well.”

That’s why the G-7 meeting underway in Germany is vital to Ukraine’s independence and future. Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper is a leading champion in Ukraine’s corner. He is bravely urging his G-7 leaders to ban Russia from returning to their ranks at least while it’s waging war against Ukraine. Canada is also giving financial assistance to Ukraine to help it build its struggling economy, which has been beset by corruption. Canada's help includes $202 million in development assistance and $400 million in low-interest loans.

Harper told Poroshenko on Saturday that Canada will make Ukraine’s case at the G-7 summit in the Bavarian Alps.

“While Ukraine may not have a seat at the table, I can assure you, Mr. President, the situation will be very high on Canada’s agenda,” Harper said with Poroshenko at his side.

Ukraine has made no secret of its urgent desire for weapons to fight the Russian terrorists as well as Russian troops equipped with their latest armament. While there has been some talk about this request in G-7 circles, Harper was quoted as saying that he has made it clear that Ottawa was not yet willing to send Ukraine weapons but would continue to assist the Ukrainian forces in other ways.

“We supply a range of non-lethal military equipment,” Harper said. “We would only go beyond that in concert with our allies and that are matters on which we have an ongoing dialogue.”

While disappointed about this, Poroshenko praised Canada for supporting Ukraine since “the first hours” of his presidency and said the military aid it had provided to his country, such as medical kits and mobile hospitals, “addressed an acute problem.”

Poroshenko characterized his talks with Harper as “effective and very relevant” and said the Canadian leader had become locally famous for his remark earlier in the week that Russia needs to “get out of Ukraine.”

All G-7 leaders must stand shoulder to shoulder with Poroshenko and reiterate Harper’s thoughts so Putin is not mistaken about their meaning.

Indeed, today’s free world would probably reject any suggestion of sending their armies into Ukraine to help expel and defeat the Russian invaders. However, the G-7 leaders can launch a political and economic D-Day against Russia for violating international laws, invading a peaceful neighbor and committing crimes against humanity not less abhorrent that those of Nazi Germany.

For the good of global peace and stability and their own integrity and righteousness, the G-7 leaders must emerge from their summit with a single-minded, forceful commitment to present Russia with the option of unconditionally withdrawing from Ukraine and returning to good graces of international community or being banned forever. Moscow must understand that its brand of international lawlessness will not be endured.