Browsing: Quotable notes

“I am pleased to see that the North Atlantic Council has accepted Ukraine as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner. Ukraine’s status as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner is a recognition of the tremendous sacrifices made by the brave men and women of the Ukrainian armed forces in support of NATO operations and the dedication of the Ukrainian government to continue to make serious structural military reforms. I strongly support Ukraine’s NATO integration and eventual full partnership and I will continue to advocate on their behalf. ”

In 2014, Moscow saw an opportunity to exploit a period of significant political change in Ukraine and launched a campaign to undermine the diplomatic processes, governance and territorial integrity of its sovereign neighbor, Ukraine. For more than six years, the Russian government has fueled the conflict in eastern Ukraine, threatening the lives of local civilians and degrading critical infrastructure on which millions depend for electricity and water. Despite the impact of COVID-19 throughout the region, Russia’s aggression continues unabated.

Make no mistake – the conflict in eastern Ukraine is not “internal.” Ukrainians fought for their freedom in Kyiv’s central square through the hardest winter months of 2013 and 2014, demanding an accountable government. In an effort to undermine Ukraine’s embrace of democratic values and a path toward greater integration with Europe, the Russian government initiated this conflict – in an attempt – to bring Ukraine back under the influence of the Kremlin.

“…We were, like the others, pleased to hear that during last week’s virtual meeting of the Normandy Format, the foreign ministers discussed the need to ensure full access for the Special Monitoring Mission. It is high time that Russia directed the forces it arms, trains, finances, leads and fights alongside in eastern Ukraine to stop impeding the critical work of the SMM and lay down their weapons.

“The security situation in eastern Ukraine remains dangerous and unpredictable, and there cannot be a secure environment for free and fair elections until Russia and its proxies cease hostilities and withdraw from Ukraine. But instead of taking any real steps toward ending the conflict that it foments and fuels, Moscow remains intent on trying to evade responsibility and cast itself as a mediator in this conflict, rather than the aggressor.

“The coronavirus pandemic in Ukraine has sped up the revanche in Ukraine, its readiness to demonstrate its strength and readiness to carry out reprisals with everyone who defended the country from the criminal regime of [Viktor] Yanuko­vych and Russian aggression.

“People warned about this revanche in 2019, when Volodymyr Zelenskyy won the presidential election and his party, Servant of the People, won the parliamentary election. Participants in the Maidan who supported the new president, worked for his election, became national deputies, ministers and bureaucrats, didn’t want to believe in this revanche.

“Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly protests against a new wave of illegal searches and detentions of Crimean Tatars today, by Russia’s occupation administration in the Bakhchysarai district of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

“As of now, at least four Ukrainian citizens – Amet Suleimanov, Seitumer Seitumerov, Osman Seitumerov and Rustem Seitumerov – are reported to have been detained.

“By neglecting its duties as an occupying power under international law, Russia continues to treat the indigenous Crimean Tatars as a threat to its ongoing occupation. It is extremely aggravating that in conducting its policy of repression, it abuses once again its anti-terrorist law by fabricating accusations of terrorism to purge Crimean Tatar activists.

“…the U.S. continues to be a strong supporter of Ukraine in the Ukraine conflict that is going on there, the ongoing conflict. The U.S. Mission and the OSCE is fully engaged in that. There is a special monitoring mission there that is on the ground in eastern Ukraine. There is a Normandy Four process that President Zelenskyy has reactivated for the purpose of trying to bring some type of resolution to that conflict. Look, the United States is the fiercest defender of Ukraine, and we believe that – we believe that we would like to see Ukraine continue to move closer to and to be cooperative with the European Union and also to work cooperatively and be closer to the NATO alliance.

“Following the Paris Summit of the Normandy four, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the protests [that took place in Ukraine leading up to the summit] strengthened the position of the Russian, and not Ukrainian, delegation. Of course, this is mistaken.
“Mistaken if only because the positions held by the Ukrainian delegation in Paris and the positions defended by the participants at the protests both at the Maidan and the Office of the President, were essentially the same. It was Putin who tried to persuade the Ukrainian president to capitulate. And it was the protesters who warned Zelenskyy about capitulation.

“The situation that we are seeing around the preparations for the Normandy format summit look unprecedented from the diplomatic point of view. …
“Volodymyr Zelenskyy needs the meeting to demonstrate to his voters that he is doing everything he can to achieve peace. Emmanuel Macron needs the meeting as a confirmation of his claim to be a European leader. It is less needed by Angela Merkel – although the chancellor has an interest in the hope that the Normandy format will lead to peace – she is well aware that the summit in Paris will not bring peace any closer. 

“There are pages in our history that are very painful to recall; still, they cannot be forgotten. Crimes that prove that violence and cynicism have no limits. Disasters that a normal person will not wish even on his enemies. Tragedies so great that humanity has not yet invented words to describe the pain that Ukrainians have experienced. Today we honor the memory of the victims of the Holodomor, a crime of genocide committed by the totalitarian Stalinist regime against our people, the people of Ukraine. …
“However, the huge volume of facts and evidence still gives no answer to the simple question either to the mind or to the heart: For what? How can a thought of eliminating the whole nation emerge? How can one take away the last crumb of bread and the last crumb of hope. Hope that you or at least your children will live until the next morning. …

“Since 2008, Russia has manifested an overtly aggressive foreign policy, leveraging military power and employing hybrid warfare to achieve its objectives of regional hegemony and global influence. Absent a deterrent to dissuade Russia from such aggression, there is an increased risk of further confrontations with the West. In this situation, a strong and independent Ukraine is critical to U.S. national security interests because Ukraine is a frontline state and a bulwark against Russian aggression.
“In spite of being under assault from Russia for more than five years, Ukraine has taken major steps towards integrating with the West. The U.S. government policy community’s view is that the election of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the promise of reforms to eliminate corruption will lock in Ukraine’s Western-leaning trajectory, and allow Ukraine to realize its dream of a vibrant democracy and economic prosperity. …”

“We are now faced with accusations from numerous sources that our president attempted to pressure a foreign government to investigate one of his rivals in the next presidential election. In other words, the president of the United States is attempting to fix the election. I think these accusations should be addressed with all of the tools at Congress’s disposal, including articles of impeachment. I did not run for Congress to impeach the president. I ran to make the lives of New Jerseyans better, but I’ve long said that Congress is a co-equal branch of government and has constitutional oversight duties, as well as duties to legislate for Americans. The president of the United States is threatening our national security. I believe it is my responsibility as a member of Congress to ensure that I protect our country from any and all threats. And that is what I intend to do.”

“President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy asked me for my view of the subject of peace in the Donbas. I could see that this question is of concern to the president, and that he believes the question of the war is his most important challenge. The question of war and peace is of concern to us as well, and we have been speaking about it for these five years, appealing first and foremost to the international community. ...We understand that no matter how we try to heal the wounds of war, this will not have a definitive result until the aggressor stops inflicting those wounds. ...