For nearly two weeks, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff has accused President Trump of emboldening Russia, betraying Ukraine and wielding plans to cheat in the 2020 election. He pleaded with senators about the plight of our Ukrainian allies over aid that was temporarily held and eventually released, claiming there were grave consequences for the struggling country.
The White House legal team easily shot down Schiff’s claims by pointing out President Trump has been a far better friend to Ukraine than President Obama.
As a matter of policy, President Obama ignored Ukrainian pleas for military defense. He sent them blankets and MREs in the aftermath of Vladimir Putin’s violent occupation of Crimea. President Trump approved lethal aid, including tank busting Javelin missiles, to Ukraine. This week, additional promises from the Trump administration were made.
Just this week, the Treasury Department issued new sanctions against Russian backed Crimea officials and a railroad company for aggression toward Ukraine.
“Treasury’s action, taken in close coordination with our international allies and partners, reiterates our unwavering support for restoring free and fair democratic political processes in Crimea,” Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin released in a statement. “The coordinated U.S., EU, and Canadian designations limit the ability of these illegitimate officials to do business internationally and highlights the strength of the transatlantic alliance in standing up to Russia’s continued aggression.”
In another show of force, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was in Kiev Friday and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“The United States have been and will remain our key ally in defending sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We dearly appreciate efforts of President Trump and his administration on this track. We are grateful for your personal, unflinching, and unwavering stance regarding the war in Donbas and the illegal annexation of Crimea,” Zelensky stated during a press conference.
Pompeo reaffirmed the U.S. backing of Ukraine for membership in NATO and reassured Zelensky the administration will continue to stand strong against Russian aggression. They also discussed additional ways for Ukraine to strengthen its navy and air defenses through additional weapons purchases.
“President Zelensky and I just had an excellent meeting, talked about a range of issues. The Ukrainian people should know the United States understands that Ukraine is an important country. It’s not just the geographic heart of Europe; it’s a bulwark between freedom and authoritarianism in Eastern Europe,” Pompeo.
“Today, I am here with a clear message. The United States sees that the Ukrainian struggle for freedom, democracy, and prosperity is a valiant one. Our commitment to support it will not waver,” he continued. “As I told President Zelensky earlier today, the commitment starts with our strong support for his efforts to strengthen democratic institutions in this country. The final victory for the Revolution of Dignity is within reach. The United States has worked hard to help Ukraine develop a strong rule of law, a healthy investment climate, a reformed defense sector, and energy independence, and we’ll continue to do so.
Actions speak louder than words. The actions taken by the Trump administration during the impeachment trial further prove Schiff’s claims President Trump abandoned the country for personal gain are completely false.
