Ambassador Haley’s Security Remarks, hmmm, Acceptable

Ambassador Nikki Haley’s remarks at a UN Security Council Open Debate on Conflicts in Europe on Tuesday, February 21, exhibited a welcome pro-Ukraine tone from the new American diplomat that was uncharacteristically different from what we’re used to expect from President Trump.

However, the US Permanent Representative to the United Nations also expressed a few troublesome observations about the Russo-Ukraine War of 2014-17.

Addressing European conflicts that can undermine continental and global stability, Haley classified Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as being acutely challenging without calling it an invasion. Specifically, she said, the challenge is “Russia’s attempts to destabilize Ukraine and infringe upon Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Attempts? Russia is not attempting this act of aggression. It is not planning or rehearsing it. Russia has already cross Ukraine’s border with soldiers, rockets, tanks and other heavy weapons. It is in Ukraine, engaging Ukrainian armed forces in battle, killing civilians – nearly 10,000 by latest count – destroying cities, towns and villages in eastern Ukraine, and threatening regional and global peace and stability.

Haley also pointed out that Russia “occupied” Crimea. A welcome reference. But such a declaration should have been preceded by a factual observation that Moscow first invaded the Ukrainian peninsula in February 2014 and afterward unlawfully annexed it and turned it into an occupied territory in violation of at least the UN Charter.

The Ambassador then said Russia “armed, financed, and organized separatist forces in eastern Ukraine.” Indeed, Moscow has been doing that for its mercenary terrorists but it has also stationed regular soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine. When killed in action, these pathetic troops have been sent home in sealed containers so their loved ones are not aware of what has happened to them, or they have been submerged in Ukrainian lakes, or cremated in efficient mobile crematoria.

Her final troublesome remark pertained to the ongoing bombardment of Avdiyivka. Haley said pictures of this war-torn town show “the consequences of Russia’s ongoing interference in Ukraine.” If this is merely the result of Moscow’s interference in Ukraine then I wouldn’t want to see the effects of its unbridled war against Ukraine. No, Madam Ambassador, Russia’s war in Ukraine cannot be demeaned or sanitized by calling it interference. It slanders the sacrifices of the thousands of civilians and soldiers who died or were wounded.

On the positive side, Haley did publicly recognize Ukraine’s dreadful condition, which is more than the President has done. She cited NATO’s training and assistance in building the defense capabilities of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, as well as the OSCE’s crucial role in observing and monitoring the war-ravaged region of Ukraine.

In a historical flashback, she recalled that more than three years ago the Ukrainian people took to the streets of Kyiv to protest political oppression and corruption. “These protesters demanded freedom, democracy, and respect for the rule of law, and they succeeded in creating a new Ukraine. The United States continues to stand with the Ukrainian people,” she pledged. But, unfortunately for Ukrainians, she noted, Russia then arose and prevented the change that Ukrainians wanted.

The Ambassador also criticized “Russia’s recognition in recent days of purported passports and other illegitimate documents distributed by Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions is another direct challenge to efforts to bring peace to eastern Ukraine.”

Truthfully, Haley went further in supporting Ukraine than President Trump. She admitted that the United States seeks a better relationship with Russia, but, she cautioned, that goal cannot come at the cost of the security of America’s European friends and allies.

“That is why the United States calls on Russia to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. That is why we continue to urge Russia to show a commitment to peace – by fully implementing the commitments under the Minsk agreements and ending its occupation of Crimea,” she insisted.

“The United States and the EU remain united in this approach, keeping sanctions in place until Moscow fully honors its Minsk commitments. Our separate Crimea-related sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns control over the peninsula to Ukraine.”

The Ambassador concluded on a positive note about sanctions that Ukrainians in Ukraine and around the world have welcomed hearing from US and other diplomats in the hallowed halls of the United Nations.

With a disturbing dearth of supportive White House comments about Ukraine, Ambassador Haley’s remarks are to be cheered. In time, hopefully, we can expect the troublesome remarks to be supplanted by her unambiguously vocal advocacy for Ukraine and condemnation of Russia for its ongoing crimes against humanity.