Tuesday, April 22, 2014

What Is The U.S. Policy On Ukraine?

Pro-Russian armed men walk past activists hanging up a "Donetsk Republic" flag outside the mayor's office in Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine, April 21, 2014.

White House Incoherence On Ukraine -- Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post

The president’s spinelessness is nowhere more apparent than in the White House briefing room. Consider yesterday’s back-and-forth on Ukraine with White House press secretary Jay Carney:

QUESTION: . . . . Ukraine and Russia are trading blame over who’s responsible for the shooting yesterday in eastern Ukraine. Can you just give us what the U.S. assessment is of what happened there?

MR. CARNEY: Julie, what I can tell you is that we continue to monitor events in eastern Ukraine closely. We’ve seen differing reports about what happened in Slovyansk yesterday but cannot independently confirm responsibility for these actions. Overall, we are concerned about the situation there, and we urge paramilitary groups throughout the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine to lay down their weapons and depart the buildings that they have occupied, as was called for in the accord signed in Geneva last week. We continue to call on Russia to use its influence over these groups to press them to disarm and to turn occupied buildings over to the authorities.

Read more ....

My Comment: The post by Jennifer Rubin is long .... but suffice it to say that she and White House Press Room reporters do not understand what is the U.S. policy and position on the Ukraine crisis .... except to promote inaction and a lack of real commitment to defend a Western ally. As to what is my take .... Vice President Biden is now in Kiev and he made a promise that speaks volumes to the U.S. position on supporting the interim Kiev government .... he promised $50 million in aid .... zero mention of any U.S. commitment to provide and replace anywhere near the $50 BILLION that Russia has provided and promised over the years. Money talks .... and everything else walks. In the Ukraine crisis .... the U.S. is just walking.

Update: This is the number one issue in Ukraine right now .... Ukraine Economy Battered by Political Turmoil (VOA) .... and if it is not solved soon the crisis in eastern Ukraine is going to spread throughout the country.

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