2023 Presidential Captive Nations Week Proclamation Cites War in Ukraine

The 2023 Presidential Captive Nations Week Proclamation, which US presidents are mandated to issue each July, cites the russian war against Ukraine as an example of a national battle for democracy and freedom.

The first such proclamation was authorized by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1959 in support of “the peoples of the Soviet-dominated nations have been deprived of their national independence and their individual liberties.”

This year, President Biden recognizes the “Ukrainian people’s courageous defense of their sovereignty, freedom, land, and lives” again “russia’s brutal aggression.”

The full text of the 2023 Presidential Captive Nations Week Proclamation follows:

During Captive Nations Week, we reaffirm our support for brave people around the world who are standing up to oppressive rule and striving for greater freedom, greater dignity, and greater democracy.

When President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed the first Captive Nations Week in 1959, he appealed directly to the hundreds of millions living behind the Iron Curtain — firm in the knowledge that authoritarianism could never erase a people’s love of liberty.  Over the coming decades, courageous women and men joined together to demand their fundamental freedoms and human rights.  But the battle against oppression did not end with the Cold War.  The forces of autocracy continue to reassert themselves.  In Iran, belarus, Syria, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the People’s Republic of China, and elsewhere, we are seeing an all too familiar contempt for the rule of law, for democracy, for human rights, and even for the truth itself.

This is all too evident in russia’s brutal aggression against its neighbor Ukraine and in the Ukrainian people’s courageous defense of their sovereignty, freedom, land, and lives.  And around the world, countless more are working every day in their own countries to advance the essential democratic principles that unite free people everywhere:  the rule of law; free and fair elections; the freedom of the press; the freedom to speak, write, and assemble; and the freedom to worship as one chooses.  These advocates and champions of democracy are living proof that the darkness that drives autocracy can never extinguish the flame of liberty that lights the souls of free people everywhere.

The United States is proud to stand with all those who fight for freedom.  We will continue supporting democratic reformers and human rights defenders around the world, who are working for a future where women and girls can exercise their rights equally and contribute fully to society, where members of religious and ethnic minorities can live their lives without harassment, where LGBTQI+ people can live and love freely, and where citizens and the press can question and criticize their leaders without fear of reprisal. 

Two years ago, at the first Summit for Democracy, I was proud to launch the Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal, with more than $400 million in initiatives to defend and grow democratic resilience with partners around the globe.  This year, at our second Summit, I committed another $690 million to keep growing our work to advance democracy internationally.  Democracy — transparent and accountable government of, for, and by the people — is our most powerful tool to realize lasting peace, expand prosperity, and protect human dignity. 

The United States will continue to lead not just by the example of our power but the power of our example.  That is why, since my first day in office, my Administration has also taken decisive action to restore and strengthen democracy here at home.  I issued an Executive Order promoting access to voter registration and election information, and I signed into law the Electoral Count Reform Act, which helps preserve the will of the people against future attempts to overturn our elections.  The Department of Justice has strengthened its ability to fight unlawful voter suppression.  And I continue to call on the Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. 

During this Captive Nations Week, as we honor the bravery of democratic reformers and human rights defenders everywhere, I am reminded of the words of the philosopher Kierkegaard:  “Faith sees best in the dark.”  To those living in darkness today:  We honor your resilience.  To those who are committed to the cause of liberty:  We are your partner for a better future. 

The Congress, by joint resolution approved July 17, 1959 (73 Stat. 212), has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation designating the third week of July of each year as “Captive Nations Week.”

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim July 16 through July 22, 2023, as Captive Nations Week.  I call upon all Americans to reaffirm our commitment to championing those around the world who are working, often at great personal risk, to secure liberty and justice for all.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

End of russian War won’t Result in Peace

Despite the displays of camaraderie, adulation, support, back slapping, respect, awe, and humanitarian and military aid at the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius, the leaders of the free world’s bastion of defense stopped short of inviting Ukraine to cross the threshold into the hallowed ranks of the alliance, disappointing its President Zelenskyy and Ukrainians around the world.

In lieu of immediate membership, the alliance devised a list of its commitments to Ukraine’s military capability to defend itself and then to rebuild its country. The consensus among the NATO leaders was to develop a multi-lateral scheme that would ensure Ukraine’s future as a free independent, democratic, and sovereign nation.

“We will not waver,” Biden vowed after the summit in Lithuania ended. “I mean that. Our commitment to Ukraine will not weaken. We will stand for freedom today, tomorrow and for as long as it takes.”

That takes the sting out of rejection.

However, the leaders had enumerated a handful of reasons or excuses for their verdict but none of them hold any water. Interoperability with NATO – done, battlefield skills – done, unique combat skills and superiority versus the enemy, russia – done.

However, their complaints about Kyiv’s tardy democratic development and the prevalence of corruption and graft are bogus complaints by those who realize they can’t lob any other stones at Ukraine because they, themselves, aren’t without sins but they’re afraid of the enemy, russia.

Consequently, the leaders of the alliance made their decisions from behind a desk while Ukrainians are heroically defending their country and Europe with their proven skills, determination, blood, guts and latest weaponry against NATO’s sworn enemy, russia.

As for their concerns about Ukraine’s war with russia, I’ll address that later.

Zelenskyy, who arrived in Vilnius with chants of Ukraine will make NATO stronger, was visibly and understandably infuriated by the decision that Ukraine didn’t make the cut. After all, Ukraine’s greatest attribute for being accepted has been its singular ability to stand up to unprovoked russian aggression, which can be regarded as the historic, anticipated battle for the country’s existence. The Ukrainian president had been travelling the world over, meeting with national leaders, urging, even pleading for Ukraine’s acceptance.

That gesture would have been the political shot heard round the world.

At the end, Zelenskyy was simply told Ukraine would be invited to become a member “when allies agree and conditions are met.” The answer itself was obnoxious.

Not surprisingly, Zelenskyy justifiably hit the roof, saying it was “absurd” for NATO leaders not to reveal even so much as a timetable. The conditions, he said, were “vague,” to say the least.

President Joe Biden, who sought to shine on the global stage, and his fellow leaders, in an effort to mollify the disappointment, did unveil a substantial multifaceted show of support for Ukraine, not really a consolation prize, but rather an eternal joint declaration of support for Ukraine aimed at bolstering the war-torn country’s military capability.

Biden acknowledged that the alliance did not invite Ukraine to join during the summit as the country works on “necessary reforms,” but, he said, “We’re not waiting on that process to be finished” to boost the country’s security. Biden has emphasized that Ukraine is not ready to enter NATO, admitting earlier that russia’s war in Ukraine needs to end before the alliance can consider adding Kyiv to its ranks.

“Mr. Zelenskyy and I talked about the kind of guarantees we could make in the meantime… And so today, the long-term commitments we’re making are backed up by the notion that in the meantime, we’re going to provide security to Ukraine for its needs and against any aggression that may occur.”

However, it appears Zelenskyy heard enough to return home satisfied, saying, “The results of the summit are good” in a news conference with the alliance’s chief. Among the moves NATO took was agreeing to remove one requirement for Ukraine’s entrance to the group – a Membership Action Plan – given Kyiv’s close relationship with NATO nations.

While sitting with Biden before their meeting on the summit’s sidelines, Zelenskyy reiterated that he felt the summit was a “success” for Ukraine despite his earlier frustrations – which Biden acknowledged during his remarks.

In an event with Zelenskyy and G-7 leaders, Biden told the Ukrainian president that American support is not going anywhere. The declaration, Biden said, “starts a process by which each of our nations, and any other nation who wishes to participate, will negotiate long-term bilateral security commitments with and to Ukraine.”

“We’re going to help Ukraine build a strong defense across land, air and sea,” Biden vowed, calling it “a force of stability in the region to deter against any and all threats.”

“The Ukrainian delegation is bringing home significant security, victory for the Ukraine, for our country, for our people, for our children. It opens for us absolutely new security opportunities, and I thank everyone who made it possible,” he said.

“Today we are launching negotiations with Ukraine to formalize – through bilateral security commitments and arrangements aligned with this multilateral framework, in accordance with our respective legal and constitutional requirements – our enduring support to Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity, rebuilds its economy, protects its citizens, and pursues integration into the Euro-Atlantic community,” the declaration said, adding that those discussions will begin “immediately.”

A joint declaration issued by the G7 lays the groundwork for each nation to negotiate agreements to help Ukraine bolster its military over the long term. Zelenskyy described the initiative as a bridge toward eventual NATO membership and a deterrent against russia. The process will work on “bilateral, long-term security commitments and arrangements towards” three goals.

The first goal is “ensuring a sustainable force capable of defending Ukraine now and deterring russian aggression in the future,” through continued provision of security assistance and modern military equipment, support for Ukraine’s industrial base development, training for forces, intelligence sharing and cooperation, and support for cyber defense, security and resilience initiatives.

The second is “strengthening Ukraine’s economic stability and resilience, including through reconstruction and recovery efforts, to create the conditions conducive to promoting Ukraine’s economic prosperity, including its energy security.” And the third is “providing technical and financial support for Ukraine’s immediate needs stemming from russia’s war as well as to enable Ukraine to continue implementing the effective reform agenda that will support the good governance necessary to advance towards its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.”

The announcement will start a process of bilateral negotiations with Kyiv, National Security Council senior director for Europe Amanda Sloat told reporters.

There will be a “long-term investment in Ukraine’s future force” aimed at “ensuring Ukraine has a sustainable fighting force capable of defending Ukraine now and deterring russian aggression in the future, a strong and stable economy, and the help Ukraine needs to advance the reform agenda to support the good governance necessary to advance Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” she said.

“We believe the declaration we will announce today seeks to ensure Ukraine’s future as a free independent, democratic, and sovereign nation. It signals in joint long-term commitment to building a powerful defensive and deterrence force for Ukraine, of course for both stability and for peace. This multi-lateral declaration will send a significant signal to russia that time is not on its side,” Sloat said.

In turn, Zelenskyy offered heartfelt thanks to the U.S. for standing “shoulder to shoulder” with Ukraine from the first days of the war. He also acknowledged criticism facing the US following Biden’s controversial decision last week to send his country cluster munitions.

Defining an end to hostilities is no easy task. Officials have declined to define the goal, which could suggest a negotiated cease-fire or Ukraine reclaiming all occupied territory. Either way, putin would essentially have veto power over Ukraine’s NATO membership by prolonging the conflict.

While a firm date for Ukraine’s accession has not been set, the consent focused on an end to the war, which ironically was not defined. Does that mean a defeat of russia; a Ukrainian victory; a draw that focuses on a line of demilitarization; russia’s capitulation and withdrawal from Ukraine; russian reparations; capture and prosecution of war criminals?

After the summit, russia’s foreign minister sergei lavrov chimed in with a warning that the war won’t end until the West gives up plans to dominate and defeat russia.

The goal of the “US-led collective West” is to strengthen its global hegemony, lavrov told the Kompas newspaper. lavrov is due to attend the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum in Jakarta this week, as is U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“Why doesn’t the armed confrontation in Ukraine come to an end? The answer is very simple – it will continue until the West gives up its plans to preserve its domination and overcome its obsessive desire to inflict on russia a strategic defeat at the hands of its Kyiv puppets,” according to a transcript of the interview published on russia’s foreign ministry website. “For the time being, there are no signs of change in this position.”

All of which indicates that the war won’t end in the foreseeable future. Throughout its history, muscovy/russia has repeatedly invaded Ukraine with the goal of subjugating the country and annihilating the nation. Chances are that it will continue doing so. Does that mean that Ukraine will never join NATO so long as the war lasts because Kyiv certainly can’t throw down its weapons just to accede to the alliance? If Ukraine does become a member at some time in the future, will the NATO allies have to continue sitting on the ramparts, waiting for russia to make another move against Ukraine or the other former captive nations?

So wouldn’t it have been better to allow Ukraine to join now, when russia is weak, crumbling and in disarray? 

Was Ukraine Left at NATO’s Altar?

History is replete with stories of heroes or heroines abandoned by fair-weather friends at the threshold of a major achievement or victory. The free world, NATO, the United States, “old” Europe and surprisingly even the former captive nations failed to make history. They failed to open the door to NATO membership for Ukraine or commit to a solid timetable and strong endorsement of Ukraine’s accession to NATO that would truly symbolize its unquestionable support for the largest country in Europe that is facing an existential battle against its arch enemy russia.

The standard range of excuses was offered about why the salubrious group of defenders of democracy couldn’t yet invite Ukraine to join NATO including it wasn’t ready, it’s fighting a war with Russia and the silliest reason by far was that it’s not doing enough to stop corruption. If you would pick up any daily newspaper in any American city you’d find enough stories about lifestyle and government corruption to fill a college graduate course in how not to run a government.

Nonetheless, with platitudes, promises and compassion the NATO members turned down Ukraine. However, its leaders pointed out that Ukraine should be able to join the military alliance at some point in the future but they stopped short of offering Kyiv an immediate invitation and a definite date, infuriating Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The NATO leaders said in a declaration: “Ukraine’s future is in NATO.” But they offered no timeline for the process.

“We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met,” the declaration said, without specifying the conditions Ukraine needs to meet.

NATO did drop a requirement for Ukraine to fulfil what is called a Membership Action Plan (MAP), effectively removing a hurdle on Kyiv’s way into the alliance.

While the world waits, Ukrainians continue shedding their blood – soldiers on the front lines and civilians in their apartments or pizzerias – in defense of Ukraine and Europe against the scourge of russia.

As he arrived in Vilnius Zelenskyy assured thousands of Lithuanian well-wishers, many waving Ukrainian flags, that “NATO will make Ukraine safer, Ukraine will make NATO stronger.”

“It’s unprecedented and absurd when a timeframe is not set, neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine’s membership,” Zelenskyy said before arriving in the Lithuanian capital as a special guest. He expressed disappointment that Ukraine was not invited to join NATO.

“I travelled here today with belief in a decision, with belief in partners, with belief in a strong NATO...

“I would wish for this belief to become a certainty - certainty in decisions that all of us deserve and which our every soldier expects, our every citizen, our every mother, our every child. And is this too big of a wish?” he asked.

The NATO declaration also offered a seemingly double-sided stroke of support: “We reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the government and people of Ukraine in the heroic defense of their nation, their land, and our shared values.” In strong language towards Moscow, it added: “The Russian Federation is the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.”

The alliance also had recognized Ukraine’s army was increasingly “interoperable” and more “politically integrated” with NATO forces and it would continue to support reforms to Ukraine’s democracy and security sector. NATO leaders also highlighted the creation of a new NATO-Ukraine Council, meeting tomorrow for the first time, which will give Kyiv the right to summon meetings of the whole alliance.

But the decision to give no sense of timescale will be seen as a setback for Ukraine.

Even though such detail was always unlikely, Zelenskyy’s decision to say the absence of a timetable was “absurd” only emphasized his and all Ukrainians obvious frustration.

It’s rather strange. If you can separate friends from foes, the reasons for supporting the allies, then why are you curtsying to russia, the enemy?

Lithuania’s past leaders, including former presidents Valdas Adamkus and Dalia Grybauskaitė, sent a letter imploring NATO leaders to invite Ukraine to join the alliance during the Vilnius summit, the LRT public broadcaster reported on July 10.

“Gathering in Vilnius for the NATO summit, you have the opportunity to make a historic decision and invite Ukraine to NATO, without delaying and without waiting for the end of the war,” said the statement, also signed by the first head of the restored Lithuanian state Vytautas Landsbergis and signatories of the Act of March 11, declaring the country’s independence in 1990.

“Ukraine and its people, with their lives sacrificed for the freedom of us all, deserve that we all defend every centimeter of Ukrainian land. Your decision can stop russia’s aggression against Ukraine.”

On the eve of the summit Grybauskaitė noted “The accession process must start, because waiting for a post-war situation allows putin to never ever finish this war. If we really care about the security of NATO territory, Ukraine inevitably needs to be part of it.

“It’s not just the war against Ukraine, it’s the quest against our entire civilization. If Ukraine does not achieve a definitive victory on the battlefield, the West will end up in limbo. The aggressive actions against it will last for decades to come,” she added poignantly.

Sadly their pleas fell on deaf ears.

But Zelenskyy did score wins elsewhere. French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris would start supplying long-range cruise missiles, following a similar announcement by Britain. These will allow Ukrainian forces to hit Russian troops and supplies deep behind the front lines. Germany announced new aid worth 700 million euros, including two Patriot air defense missile launchers, and more tanks and fighting vehicles.

Tomorrow, Zelenskyy will meet with President Biden so hopefully they could come to a decision that will keep the alliance from shooting itself in the foot.

Let Ukraine finally Join NATO

In 1949 the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was founded in Washington, DC, in order to secure peace in post-war Europe, to promote cooperation among its victorious members and to guard their freedom. Today, NATO is a security alliance consisting of 31 countries from North America and Europe. It is designed to protect European allies against missile threats from outside the Euro-Atlantic area.

For decades, NATO served as an effective bulwark against soviet russia expansion. That russia has emerged as an aggressor state, leading to a destabilization of the European continent, is proof of NATO’s continued importance for both the United States and Europe as a safeguard against continued russian expansionism. In addition to the full-blown military invasion of Ukraine, the repeated serious russian provocations directed against neighboring NATO and non-NATO nations in the region and beyond endanger not only the sovereignty and territorial integrity of European allies, but the future viability of all trans-Atlantic security structures. It also disbalances the post-World War II geopolitical structure.

While russia was not openly labeled as the country that violates regional and global peace and threatens the members’ freedom, for all intents and purposes for the past seven decades and more it actually has endangered peace, security, cooperation and development throughout the region and planet.

Initially, “old” Europe and the United States and Canada became members of NATO. Then after the fall of the iron curtain, the dividing line between the righteous and dishonorable countries, the former captive nations, “new” Europe, were invited to join NATO.

Thus the stage was set for a geopolitical conundrum for the leadership of the free world.

Ukraine, since declaring independence in 1991, has been an on again, off again candidate for membership. A host of definitions and encouraging labels were devised for the process of allowing Ukraine to accede to NATO while not upsetting russia. None of them made sense considering the fact that Ukraine’s neighbors to the west were accepted as NATO members and they have been Ukraine’s staunchest supporters since their accession.

Now that russia is fulfilling its age-old mission to invade and subjugate Ukraine and imprison or annihilate the Ukrainian nation, the issue of Ukraine’s accession to NATO is once again top of mind. The russian war is killing Ukrainian men, women and children, destroying the infrastructure and ruining the environment.

The NATO members will gather in Vilnius, Lithuania, for a two-day meeting beginning tomorrow and Ukraine will be the key point on the Agenda. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, after threatening not to attend if the discussion will not be meaningful, will actually be present perhaps signaling that it won’t be a waste of time.

Undeniably, Ukraine is the most popular country on earth today. It has become the repository of the world’s latest armaments to defeat russia. And putin made it so by shedding blood across the Ukrainian landscape; by missiles strike against residential homes and pizzerias; by blowing up a dam and flooding arable land.

The loudest supporters of Ukraine’s accession to NATO are the former captive nations of russian subjugation. They know the pain of the kremlin’s captivity and they know that if Ukraine falls, they will soon fall afterward. And then “old” Europe.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, considered by her contemporaries the Margaret Thatcher of her day, on July 4 said that NATO membership “is the only security guarantee” for Ukraine and said it is important that NATO member countries agree during their summit in Vilnius on “practical steps” on how Ukraine gets into the alliance.

It is important that during the summit members “go beyond the Bucharest wording,” Kallas said, referring to the 2008 summit declaration that offered Ukraine an opportunity to join the alliance without a concrete timetable.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance will support Ukraine for as long as necessary. “We are sending a message to putin that he will not win the war,” he clarified.  

“I think all the allies realize that Ukraine is in the middle of a war, and this is not a good time to invite it to join. But all allies understand that the door remains open, and we have demonstrated that with Finland and Sweden. All the allies realize that Ukraine will become a member, and it is up to the allies to decide when Ukraine is invited to join NATO. But most importantly, the allies understand that the most important thing now is to support Ukraine. If we don’t do that, Ukraine will no longer exist as an independent country. And if it doesn’t exist as an independent country, the question of its membership becomes meaningless,” Stoltenberg.

And so on and so forth. The Lithuanians and Poles support Ukraine’s accession to NATO.

Polish President Andrzej Duda has called on NATO member states to give Kyiv a clear roadmap to joining the defense alliance. “Ukraine is waiting for an unambiguous signal regarding a clear prospect of membership in NATO,” Duda said.

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) is also urging NATO to give Ukraine a “clear path” to becoming a member of the alliance to deter further aggression by Russia and other “bad actors” who seek to destabilize Europe. In a letter prior to the NATO summit AJC CEO Ted Deutch and AJC President Michael Tichnor described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as posing a threat to democracy and the international order.

“Welcoming Ukraine into NATO would send a strong signal also to other bad actors, ranging from Pyongyang to Tehran,” the letter states. “If Western nations demonstrate unity and resolve by accepting Ukraine, it would help deter these actors as well and convey a clear message that any aggression or destabilizing behavior will be met with a strong response.”

“While critics argue that Ukraine’s NATO membership could further escalate tensions with Russia, potentially leading to more conflict, history has shown that the lack of strong action in the face of aggression only emboldens aggressors,” they wrote, “By embracing Ukraine and reinforcing its security, NATO can help deter further Russian aggression and provide a stable framework for dialogue and de-escalation.”

But, apparently, russia’s war against Ukraine, russian boots on Ukrainian land and Article 5 are scaring the allies, the staunch supporters of Ukraine from ushering Ukraine into their midst and an equal among equal partner.

“Of course, we understand it cannot happen when the war is going on. But we have to have a clear pathway [for] how Ukraine gets there,” Estonia’s Kallas opined.

Enough with the caution. Russia is incapable of fighting Ukraine’s accession to NATO.

NATO membership for Ukraine would send a powerful political message to the world, to russia, about the free world’s support for Ukraine and belief in its integrity and future, far beyond the ever important HIMARs, tanks and cluster bombs. It would tell the world that now Ukraine is a worthy candidate for members in NATO and it deserves to be a member. But more so NATO deserves such a shining new member as Ukraine, the only country on earth that in seven decades as accrued the military prowess to fight and hold at bay the former second biggest army in the world. And if those reasons aren’t enough, 89% of Ukrainians support their country’s membership in NATO.

So, temporarily suspend Article 5, agree that the free world won’t send its boys to fight and die in Ukraine, Ukrainians are doing that already for the benefit of their country and the free world. But give Ukraine full membership. Tell all regions of the world that Ukraine is worthy of membership that will preserve the 32-year-old independent, sovereign and democratic country. Show impotent, decrepit russia that it can’t dictate who can become a NATO member and who can’t.

This is the only righteous course of action for the free world, NATO, the x-captive nations, and Ukraine.