What? US Expresses Sympathy to Russia for Kerch Killings!

The senseless killing of 21 people, mostly teenagers, a week ago at the Kerch technical college in Russian-occupied Crimea demonstrates the globalization of wanton murder.

An 18-year-old student Vladislav Roslyakov, ran from room to room firing at fellow students before killing himself.

It was an unspeakable shock for the families and friends of the victims and for the Crimean people, which have been suffering since the peninsula was invaded and occupied by Russian forces in February 2014.

Indeed, this was a crime against Ukrainians on Ukrainian territory and many news outlets pointed out that Crimea was seized, annexed or occupied by Russia.

Social media posts since then have painted a diabolical picture of Roslyakov. Apparently he was enamored of the “weaponized” culture that Russia is fostering in the Ukrainian peninsula. Photographs abound of elementary school children in Crimea toting all types of weapons. With such a deadly mentality all around them it’s no wonder kids are fond of guns.

Russia’s invasion and occupation of Crimea has been condemned by the free world. The United Nations denounced Russia’s aggression as did the European Union and instituted sanctions against Moscow. The United States has been one of the most stalwart critics of the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine’s peninsula and declared that sanctions against Russia will not be lifted until Russia withdraws from Crimea. That means Washington doesn’t recognize Moscow’s occupation of Crimea.

Secretary of Defense James Mattis must not have received the email.

According to the Ukrainian television network TSN – “ТСН” in Ukraine – reported that Mattis personally extended condolences to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on the tragedy. Quoting the Minister’s press service, Mattis said these kinds of killings also take place in the United States and the American people can sympathize with Russians.

Excuse and explain Mattis’ faux pas anyway you want to but a US government official just recognized Russian dominance over Crimea. He extended condolences to a foreign occupying power. That’s an offense against Crimean Tatars and all Ukrainians. Expression of condolences are appropriate at this time but they should have been directed to the President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine and Mustafa Dzhemilev, former chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, and Refat Chubarov, the current Mejlis chairman.

This is another example of the White House’s disjointed policy toward Ukraine.