Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin testifies before the Senate Appropriations State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee on Capitol Hill in Washington March 7, 2017. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein
Reuters: Eastern European diplomats appeal for U.S. help against Russia
Diplomats from six Eastern European countries appealed to U.S. senators on Tuesday to help them stand up against interference from Russia, including cyber attacks, and insisted that sanctions imposed on Moscow should not be lifted anytime soon.
The foreign minister of Ukraine as well as the ambassadors to Washington from Poland, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia appeared at a Senate appropriations subcommittee hearing on Russian activity in their countries.
"Until Russia gets off Ukrainian land, there should be no easing up of sanctions. If anything, they should be increased," said Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin.
Other diplomats agreed, describing efforts within their countries and others to lessen their dependence on Russian natural gas for their energy needs.
"We really think about diversification," said Piotr Wilczek, Poland's ambassador to Washington.
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WNU editor: I live in Canada .... can Canada distant its economic/political/cultural ties with the U.S. .... the answer is no. I use to live in Ukraine and I have a place in Russia .... I know that the countries in the eastern bloc cannot break away from Russia .... and whether they like it or not .... the economic/political/cultural ties are too close. But I also understand why some of these states are not comfortable with the political/economic pressure that Russia can exert on them ... and they are worried about their independence. In the end these eastern European nations will have to find some accommodation with Russia .... and Russia will have to compromise .... but for now relations are in the "toilet" .... and I expect that to be the case for the foreseeable future. As for going to Washington and begging for help .... I wish these eastern European diplomats luck .... but they are going to be disappointed.
1 comment:
When they went to Washington begging for help, did they explain to US Senators why the US needs to involve itself in their power struggle with Russia? Did US Senators bother to ask "why should we get involved with your affairs regarding Russia?"
You being from Russia and having ties there would have a better understanding any cultural ties and what can and cannot be changed between it and Eastern European countries.
As for America and Canada, the question you pose could just as easily be posed the other way. "...can the United States distant its economic/political/cultural ties from Canada...the answer is no." Furthermore Americans generally have a great deal of admiration for Canada and Canadians and probably would not want to distance itself from Canada.
These types of problems between Eastern European nations and Russia are best left to the folks in the region to solve. Furthermore the United States has massive problems of its own. As such, the resources are simply not available for us to contribute anything meaningful here. As I've pointed out here and elsewhere a number of times, I believe the stupidest move ever made by a major power was made by the United States when it foolishly chose to insert itself in the Russian/Ukraine conflict and all for no US national interest and this action has severely undermined US national interests.
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