US Senate Unanimously Adopts Resolution

Condemning Russian Aggression vs. Ukraine

The US Senate unanimously condemned Russia’s recent one-sided, blatant attack on Ukrainian vessels in the Kerch Strait and called for the immediate release of all incarcerated Ukrainian sailors.

Senators Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Chris Murphy (D-CT), the chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, introduced the resolution, which was adopted on November 29, according to the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS).

Undoubtedly, this statement, endorsed by all 100 members of the UN Senate, should send a unambiguous signal to Putin and his Kremlin junta that the United States is aware of all Russian crimes against Ukraine and stands with Ukraine and, by association, with all former Russian captive nations that are striving to defend and preserve their independence and sovereignty against Moscow’s aggression.

In his accompanying remarks, Johnson pointed out that the West must tell Russian President Vladimir Putin that the west “will not stand for this sort of provocation.”

“I am pleased the Senate spoke with one voice to reaffirm our support for the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian government and Ukraine’s territorial integrity and make it clear that Russia’s aggression cannot be tolerated,” Johnson said.

Other senators offered the following observations:

“Today, the Senate took action and sent a clear message to Putin that his government’s aggression against Ukraine in the Sea of Azov will not be tolerated. We strongly condemn any military action taken by Russia to unilaterally rewrite international rules,” said Senator Murphy.

“The United States should stand firmly alongside Ukraine in the face of this most recent Russian aggression,” said Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio). “Russia’s unprovoked action against Ukraine is a violation of international law and it highlights the urgent need to bolster Ukraine’s ability to defend its sovereign borders. I’m pleased that this resolution acknowledges my amendment to the FY 2018 NDAA authorizing naval security assistance to Ukraine. As Sunday’s events showed, the Black Sea and Sea of Azov have become hotspots in this conflict and increased naval assistance as well as international condemnation is appropriate and necessary.”

“Through cyberattacks, propaganda, military intimidation, and outright invasion, Russia continues to attack Ukrainian sovereignty and international standards. By escalating the tension in the region, Russia’s campaign of aggression in Eastern Europe blazes on. Such blatantly hostile acts must be universally condemned. I’m proud to join my colleagues from both sides of the aisle on this resolution reaffirming that the United States Senate stands arm and arm with our friends in Ukraine,” Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) said. “President Trump should forcefully tell Putin on the sidelines of the G20 summit to stop continued meddling in American and western democracies and that the U.S. will not stand idly by while Russia bullies Ukraine in the Azov Sea.”

“This resolution reaffirms the US. Senate’s steadfast commitment to defending Ukraine and the transatlantic community against escalating Russian aggression,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). “The Kremlin’s latest assault wasn’t just an attack on Ukraine – it was a signal to the entire world that Russia’s assaults threaten our collective security and global stability. This behavior cannot go unanswered. I’ll continue to urge Congress, as well as our transatlantic allies, to prioritize response measures that hold the Kremlin accountable for its rogue actions. As Ukraine navigates this perilous time, I urge Ukrainian lawmakers to continue to maintain the higher ground they’ve always held in the battle against Russia’s aggression.”

There are two salient remarks made by the lawmakers. Murphy accented that Russian attacks against Ukraine will not be tolerated and, in the words of Shaheen, Russia’s assaults are a threat against our collective security and global stability.”

Mighty powerful words. However, for them to be effective, there must be an obvious threat incorporated into them. What will happen if Russia persists in assaulting, attaching and invading Ukraine? What kind of impediments will the US and the free world throw in the path of oncoming Russian tanks? What credible steps will Washington undertake to repel Russian aggression?

Right now, the only military force that is protecting “our” collective security and global stability are Ukrainian soldiers. Free world’s applause and cheers will not be sufficient to ensure their combat readiness.

Support from Georgian Association

The Georgian Association in the USA “strongly condemns” Russia’s assault against Ukrainian vessels.

In a statement released on December 4, the association also said:

“The attack and seizure of three Ukrainian naval vessels and crew members, some of whom were injured, is the latest incident in Russia’s incursion on its neighbors and a violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.  While Russia’s motives in this latest action and next steps may be unclear, Russia continues to ignore international norms of behavior as it attempts to unlawfully increase its presence in the eastern European region by whatever means it deems necessary.  Their aggressiveness is a threat to all freedom loving people.  The Georgian Association stands with the citizens of Ukraine in reaffirming support of its independence.”

RIP

Lyudmila Alexeyeva, a Russian human rights leader and dissident, who challenged Soviet & Russian regimes for decades, has died at 91. My friend, Borys Potapenko and I had the privilege of visiting her in her temporary home in Queens, NY, in mid-1970s. We discussed with her the broad human rights movement in the Soviet empire with an obvious focus on events in Ukraine. The late Alexeyeva observed that when the Moscow human rights group was just beginning to form, Ukraine already had powerful campaign in place.