Ukraine would receive lethal military aid from the United States if 27 senators who have appealed to President-elect Trump get their way.
“Russia has launched a military land-grab in Ukraine that is unprecedented in modern European history,” the lawmakers, led by Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio and Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., wrote in a letter to Trump. “We believe it is in our vital national security interest to uphold these norms and values, and prevent America’s commitment to its allies and ideals from being called into question.”
Ukraine surrendered its nuclear weapons arsenal in 1994 in exchange for a pledge that the United States, Russia and the United Kingdom would “respect the independence and sovereignty” of Ukraine and “provide assistance” to the former Soviet satellite in the event that Ukraine was attacked or “an object of a threat of aggression in which nuclear weapons are used.” That pledge has been strained, however, since Russian President Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea and and sent unmarked Russian forces into eastern Ukraine.
“In light of Russia’s continued aggression and repeated refusal to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereign right to choose its own destiny, we also renew our call for the United States to increase political, economic, and military support for Ukraine,” the senators wrote. “This includes defensive lethal assistance as part of a broader effort to help Ukrainians better defend themselves, deter future aggression and implement key structural reforms.”
That letter comes on the heels of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reporting a “massive increase in cease-fire violations” in eastern Ukraine. “The international community must keep pressuring Russia to respect its obligations, especially while the security situation in eastern Ukraine remains so serious,” Stoltenberg said Wednesday following a series of meetings by the top diplomats of the NATO countries. “It’s important that economic sanctions be maintained.”
Russia is refusing to negotiate with NATO over the Ukraine crisis and “may even wait until a new U.S. administration is installed next month to see if there is any policy change,” according to ABC. Trump exchanged compliments with Putin during the presidential election and talked about his desire to coordinate with the Russians against terrorist groups — a form of cooperation that would walk back President Obama’s strategy of isolating Russia internationally in response to the Ukraine aggression.
Trump might seem unsympathetic to the senators’ proposals, but the lawmakers might have more leverage over the incoming president than usual. The letter was signed by a bipartisan majority of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which will confirm Trump’s nominees to the State Department, as well as other influential foreign policy leaders such as Senate Armed Services Committee chairman John McCain.
“U.S. leadership on maintaining such transatlantic sanctions should remain a priority,” they wrote. “We stand ready to work with you and your new administration on strengthening the US-Ukrainian relationship and look forward to learning more about your plans to engage on this important issue.”
