Republican congressman calls on colleagues and Trump to stand up to Russia

Don Bacon, a Republican member of the US House of Representatives, has called on the Trump administration and Congress to reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine and to resist Russian expansionism.

Source: European Pravda; an opinion piece by Don Bacon for The New York Times

Details: Bacon says that in recent weeks, many of his Republican colleagues, including Donald Trump, have "treated Russia with velvet gloves, shying away from calling out Mr Putin’s flatly illegal war and even blaming Ukraine for starting it".

He reminds readers that Russian aggression against Ukraine began a century ago with the suppression of the Ukrainian independence movement by the Soviet Union. The United States and the rest of Europe allowed Putin's aggression in 2014 "to stand, paving the way for his full-scale invasion in February 2022".

Quote from Bacon: "This history makes clear that America has a moral obligation to continue providing aid to Ukraine until Russia commits to fair and just peace negotiations. That means including Ukraine in the conversation."

Details: The congressman also stresses that supporting Ukraine is in the US’s national interest, as a Russian victory would threaten other European states and encourage other autocracies to take similar actions.

Bacon also addresses the isolationist wing of the Republican Party, which justifies its opposition to further support for Ukraine by fear of excessive costs. He argues that refusing to support Ukraine will lead to even greater losses.

Quote from Bacon: "If Ukraine loses, the resulting refugee flows and instability will disrupt trade, increase energy prices, force American consumers to spend more and constrain US economic growth."

More details: Baсon concludes by emphasising that the Trump administration must declare its commitment to democracy, free markets and the rule of law, otherwise the US "risks losing what makes America a great nation".

Quote from Bacon: "Peace won’t be easy, but we must reject the trap of making a false choice. It is possible to end the war for Ukraine, preserve our moral clarity by holding Russia accountable and advance America’s long-term national interests in the process. This is a Ronald Reagan moment, and the stakes for all of us are too high to waver in our resolve."

For reference: The US president's rhetoric towards Russia has changed somewhat in recent days.

Background:

• On 30 March, Trump said he was "very angry" and "pissed off" with Putin for talking about an interim administration in Ukraine. He also threatened to impose additional sanctions on Russian oil unless Moscow comes to the negotiating table and stops the fighting in Ukraine.
• Trump has also said that there is a "psychological deadline" for Russia to agree to a full ceasefire in Ukraine.

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