2 Congressional Resolutions Seek to Help War-torn Ukraine

Two resolutions are making their rounds on Capitol Hill that are earmarked to help Ukraine in its war with Russia.

These aren’t the first resolutions on behalf of Ukraine to be discussed in the halls of Congress, but today, after 27 months of war, they are critical in helping Ukraine repel Russia and restore peace and stability to the region. The resolutions emphasize the defensive and security interconnectivity among the US, Ukraine and Europe as well as the necessity of rebuilding free world and transatlantic unity that has been destroyed by Russia.

The resolutions are also important reminders for the free world because it’s beginning to show signs of boredom with this war and is realigning its focus to Ukraine’s equally fatal domestic corruption. These congressional campaigns should point out that helping Ukraine expel Russia from its sovereign land should be the prime goal now, ahead of cleaning house.

One resolution is HR 5094: Stability and Democracy (STAND) for Ukraine. Introduced by Reps. Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), the legislation aims to tighten sanctions against Russia and codifies US non-recognition of Russia’s occupation of Crimea.

In a statement late in late April, Engel said Russia’s aggression, driven by President Putin, has undermined Ukrainian sovereignty. Engle made a beneficial association between Moscow’s threat against Ukraine and simultaneously Europe by saying that Russia’s invasion has “threatened our own long-term investment in a Europe that is whole, free and at peace.”

Reiterating the free world’s widely-accepted position on occupied Crimea, Engle emphasized that it is illegal and the United States needs “to be clear about that in our policy, just as we were during the Soviets’ decades-long occupation of the Baltic states.” The allusion to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia’s unlawful captivity by Moscow, which the US refused to recognize, was justified in this reference but it should be pointed out that Ukraine was also subjugated for centuries until a quarter of a century ago.

“We need to build on our sanctions regime against troublemakers in the Kremlin, while working to preserve transatlantic unity. And we need to find ways of shoring up Ukraine and deterring Putin that go beyond just throwing more money at the problem,” said Engel. “The STAND for Ukraine Act brings a new approach to all these issues and makes clear that the United States will not just stand by as Putin bullies his neighbors, tests the resolve of NATO, and works to fracture Western unity.”

The congressmen’s quaint usage of “troublemakers,” “problem” and “bullies” attempts to make a point colloquially but Capitol Hill should understand that there’s nothing charming about the Kremlin. Russian leaders aren’t troublemakers – they’re global terrorists, it’s not a problem but a shooting war, and the Kremlin isn’t bullying its neighbors but threatening them with invasion, death and re-subjugation behind a new iron curtain.

Co-sponsor Kinzinger observed that the world is again witnessing Putin’s continuous “disrespect for global order, especially in regards to Ukraine.” He emphasized that the US must “stand up and reiterate that it will not tolerate Russia’s aggression.” But how will the US demonstrate its lack of tolerance?

He said “By reaffirming US support for Ukraine’s self-defense, emphasizing that we never have nor will recognize Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, and by holding Russia accountable for its continued violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty, we will ‘Stand with Ukraine’ legislatively and most effectively.”

The congressmen’s comments appropriately point out that important Ukrainian national life-or-death issues are at stake in the Russo-Ukraine War of 2014-16.

STAND for Ukraine was also co-sponsored by the following lawmakers including the bipartisan leadership of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus: Sander Levin (D-MI), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Ralph Abraham (R-LA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Randy Weber (R-TX), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Mike Pompeo (R-KS), David Cicilline (D-RI), John Shimkus (R-IL), Bill Keating (D-MA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Steve Cohen (D-TN), and Reid Ribble (R-WI).

The key points of STAND for Ukraine Act are:

*       Clarifies existing US policy toward Ukraine and explicitly acknowledges Ukraine’s right to self-defense while linking any sanctions relief for Russia to timely, complete and verifiable implementation of the Minsk framework.

*       Explicitly roots US Crimea policy in the non-recognition doctrine followed by the United States during the Soviet Union’s 50-year occupation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

*       Codifies existing Executive Order sanctions imposed on Russia for the forcible and illegal occupation of Crimea.

*       Tightens existing US sanctions on Russia for its violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity by authorizing a strict sanctions-evasion framework and requiring a regular report on foreign financial institutions that are illicitly controlling Ukraine state-owned assets-namely Russian banks in Crimea.

*       Imposes an Arms Export Control Act “presumption of denial” standard on any NATO member that transfers certain defense articles or services containing US technology or components to Russia while Russia is forcibly occupying the territory of Ukraine or any NATO member.

*       Extends the Magnitsky Act to territories occupied or otherwise controlled by Russia such as Crimea, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria.

*       Directs the Administration to consult with the Government of Ukraine and seek to establish an international consortium to drive private investment in Ukraine by minimizing and pooling political risk to would-be private investors.

*       Directs the Secretary of State to develop and implement a strategy to respond to Russian disinformation and propaganda efforts toward Russian-speaking areas in countries bordering Russia.

The second resolution is S.2692, the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act. Sponsors Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) wrote a “Dear Colleague” that seeks the Senate’s support for the legislation.

S.2692 would establish a Center for Information Analysis and Response for the purpose of coordinating a US response to propaganda from foreign sources such as Russia, China and other countries. It is regarded as an essential piece of legislation that would strengthen US security interests by disseminating truthful information about worldwide issues, in particular, Russia’s disinformation and propaganda about Ukraine and the war in eastern Ukraine.

Indeed, Russian trolls are seen across the Internet defaming Ukraine, the US and NATO by painting them as the aggressors against Russia as well as chasing pro-Ukrainian bloggers and tweeters.

The three principle points of the act are:

Better coordinate US government efforts by establish the US Center for Information Analysis and Response;

Empower local communities to expose and counter foreign propaganda and manipulation through a local grant program;

Encourage the State Department to give special consideration in exchange programs to residents of countries vulnerable to foreign disinformation.

“The Counter Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act would ensure America’s national security infrastructure is structured to best counter the false narratives that harm our security—delivering truthful information and empowering credible voices outside government to directly counter false narratives and make the world a safer place for the United States and our allies,” wrote Portman and Murphy in their letter.

The adoption of these resolutions is important because they will bolster previously adopted acts and a relatively favorable US policy vis-à-vis Ukraine ahead of a change in the White House next January. They could have been stronger; they could have called for arming Ukraine; and they could have denounced Russia as an enemy of peace and the free world. However, realistically, the sense of HR 5094 and S.2692 is the best that could be expected from supportive legislators that fear aggravating an already unstable Russian leader.

The Ukrainian National Information Service in Washington, DC, is urging Ukrainian Americans, and by association Americans who trace their heritages to Eastern Europe and the x-captive nations, to ask their elected officials to support these resolutions. Additionally, the spirit of these resolutions should be included as planks in the platforms of the Republic and Democratic parties.

Since the US and free world are reluctant to offer Kyiv needed military aid to stop Russia’s onslaught against Ukraine like General Patton saved Europe by stopping Hitler’s Nazi war machine, then perhaps legislations such as these can bolster this goal in another way.