The House passes a bi-partisan resolution condemning the violence in Ukraine
On Tuesday, the House passed a bi-partisan resolution (H.Res.499) that condemns the violence in Ukraine and calls for sanctions against Russia’s banks, companies, and citizens in the U.S.
The resolution also says that Russia’s actions in Ukraine “pose a threat to international peace and security,” and it supports Ukraine’s right to govern and protect its borders.
The resolution further states that the United States and other members of the G-8 should not attend the June meeting in Sochi, Russia, and that Russia should be removed from the G-8.
The resolution was first introduced in the House Foreign Affairs committee, where it passed last week with bi-partisan support.
In the March 5, 2014, press release , Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, stated that the agreement is a first step in getting Russian President Vladimir Putin to exit from the Ukrainian territory of Crimea.
Royce said, “It is important that Congress support tough sanctions on Russia to Congress to pressure it to end its military aggression and provide assistance to bolster Ukraine’s new government.
This resolution is the first step toward accomplishing that…Only by forcing Vladimir Putin to reverse his aggression and by supporting Ukraine in this time of national crisis can we hope to restore peace in the region.”
Rep. Elliot Engel (D-NY), who is the ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, added that the resolution “condemns” Russia’s actions and sends a message that there are consequences for the country’s actions.
Engel was quoted in the March 5, 2014, press release as saying, “This bi-partisan resolution strongly condemns Russia’s illegal violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and puts Putin on notice that his reckless actions will have consequences.”
According to CNN, Putin stated that sanctions against Russia will result in the sanctioning country having sanctions placed against its banks, companies, assets, and citizens who are doing business in Russia.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) have taken steps to place pressure on Russia to remove its soldiers from Crimea.
According to RT, Putin reasoned that he intervened in Crimea due to Crimea’s largely ethnic Russian population fearing “anti-Russian sentiments” within the Ukrainian government that Putin and Crimea’s representatives says are evident in Ukraine’s decision to outlaw the use of language that is not Ukrainian.
However, the United States and Britain have argued that Russia’s actions are a violation of the 1994 Budapest agreement.
The agreement states that in exchange for Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons neither the United States, Britain, or Russia will use military force against Ukraine.
Some members of Congress have expressed concern that the U.S.’ ‘reset’ policy with Russia has not been effective, and that a firmer approach could have possibly resulted in a different outcome with Russia and Ukraine.
During an appearance on CNN’s “New Day,” Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) told host Kate Bolduan that the ‘reset’ policy that President Obama put into place has not helped the U.S. to gather effective intelligence on Russia.
Bouldaun questioned if Ryan’s view was partisan considering that former President George W. Bush had to contend with the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008.
Ryan responded that that was the reason why President Obama should have maintained a firm stance with Russia and that the president needs to reconsider his position on foreign policy issues.
ABC News reported that during the 2008 Presidential Campaign, Dr. Susan Rice, then foreign policy adviser to the Obama campaign, introduced the idea of a “reset button” in response to Sen. John McCain’s “hawkish” approach to Russia.
ABC News quoted Rice as saying, “I don’t know how you press the reset button without allies and partners around the world when you are committing to intensifying the policies and approaches they have found so difficult to digest under President Bush, whether you are talking about staying indefinitely in Iraq or kicking Russia out of the G-8.”
Last Wednesday, the Defense News reported that during the Senate Armed Services Committee’s hearing McCain asked Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel if the “reset” policy has resulted in the U.S. not being able to gather the intelligence that it needs.
Hagel responded that the U.S. is able to gather the intelligence but that he wasn’t able to get into details about it because the evidence is classified.
The resolution also says that Russia’s actions in Ukraine “pose a threat to international peace and security,” and it supports Ukraine’s right to govern and protect its borders.
The resolution further states that the United States and other members of the G-8 should not attend the June meeting in Sochi, Russia, and that Russia should be removed from the G-8.
The resolution was first introduced in the House Foreign Affairs committee, where it passed last week with bi-partisan support.
In the March 5, 2014, press release , Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, stated that the agreement is a first step in getting Russian President Vladimir Putin to exit from the Ukrainian territory of Crimea.
Royce said, “It is important that Congress support tough sanctions on Russia to Congress to pressure it to end its military aggression and provide assistance to bolster Ukraine’s new government.
This resolution is the first step toward accomplishing that…Only by forcing Vladimir Putin to reverse his aggression and by supporting Ukraine in this time of national crisis can we hope to restore peace in the region.”
Rep. Elliot Engel (D-NY), who is the ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, added that the resolution “condemns” Russia’s actions and sends a message that there are consequences for the country’s actions.
Engel was quoted in the March 5, 2014, press release as saying, “This bi-partisan resolution strongly condemns Russia’s illegal violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and puts Putin on notice that his reckless actions will have consequences.”
According to CNN, Putin stated that sanctions against Russia will result in the sanctioning country having sanctions placed against its banks, companies, assets, and citizens who are doing business in Russia.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) have taken steps to place pressure on Russia to remove its soldiers from Crimea.
According to RT, Putin reasoned that he intervened in Crimea due to Crimea’s largely ethnic Russian population fearing “anti-Russian sentiments” within the Ukrainian government that Putin and Crimea’s representatives says are evident in Ukraine’s decision to outlaw the use of language that is not Ukrainian.
However, the United States and Britain have argued that Russia’s actions are a violation of the 1994 Budapest agreement.
The agreement states that in exchange for Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons neither the United States, Britain, or Russia will use military force against Ukraine.
Some members of Congress have expressed concern that the U.S.’ ‘reset’ policy with Russia has not been effective, and that a firmer approach could have possibly resulted in a different outcome with Russia and Ukraine.
During an appearance on CNN’s “New Day,” Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) told host Kate Bolduan that the ‘reset’ policy that President Obama put into place has not helped the U.S. to gather effective intelligence on Russia.
Bouldaun questioned if Ryan’s view was partisan considering that former President George W. Bush had to contend with the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008.
Ryan responded that that was the reason why President Obama should have maintained a firm stance with Russia and that the president needs to reconsider his position on foreign policy issues.
ABC News reported that during the 2008 Presidential Campaign, Dr. Susan Rice, then foreign policy adviser to the Obama campaign, introduced the idea of a “reset button” in response to Sen. John McCain’s “hawkish” approach to Russia.
ABC News quoted Rice as saying, “I don’t know how you press the reset button without allies and partners around the world when you are committing to intensifying the policies and approaches they have found so difficult to digest under President Bush, whether you are talking about staying indefinitely in Iraq or kicking Russia out of the G-8.”
Last Wednesday, the Defense News reported that during the Senate Armed Services Committee’s hearing McCain asked Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel if the “reset” policy has resulted in the U.S. not being able to gather the intelligence that it needs.
Hagel responded that the U.S. is able to gather the intelligence but that he wasn’t able to get into details about it because the evidence is classified.
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