Six on History: Russia, Ukraine & NATO
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"Republican Senator Roger Wicker Wicker [sic] believes the U.S should not rule out military intervention, including a nuclear strike, when it comes to combatting Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Cavuto asked for further clarification on what military action means. Wicker answered the U.S should be considering both more boots on the grounds in Ukraine and a nuclear strike.
He said: "Military action could mean that we standoff with our ships in the black sea and we rain destruction on Russia capability, it could mean that.
"It could mean that we participate, I would not rule that out nor would I rule out American troops on the ground.
"I think the president should say that everything is on the table. Frankly, to the extent that you had Democrats on the show before me saying we need to be tougher, I support that and appreciate that.
"I think they represent the fear that we have, the realization that we have in Congress. That losing a free democratic Ukraine to Russian invasion would be a gamechanger for a free Europe."
Russia's build-up of military forces along the Ukraine border has caused concern that Putin may be about to invade the country.
A senior Biden official on Monday indicated that the U.S. does not want to have a military conflict with Russia over Ukraine and hopes to deescalate the situation.
The official said: "I would say that the United States is not seeking to end up in a circumstance in which the focus of our countermeasures is the direct use of military force as opposed to a combination of support for the Ukrainian military, strong economic countermeasures and the substantial increase in support and capability to our NATO allies to ensure that they remain safe."
"First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov on Thursday, December 9, in an interview with Izvestia, commented on the statement of the American Republican Senator Roger Wicker about the possible use of nuclear weapons against Russia because of Ukraine.
The Russian senator called such statements by Winker [sic], who is a member of the American delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, inadmissible. It, according to him, is extremely surprising.
“Well, this is generally unacceptable. A person who is part of a parliamentary structure such as the security and cooperation structure calls for a nuclear strike. Well, this, frankly speaking, is extremely surprising, ”he stressed.
Dzhabarov expressed confidence that at the next session of the OSCE PA in Vienna, Russian representatives are fully entitled to ask the American to explain their words.
“What kind of cooperation can we talk about if the person himself calls for confrontation. I think this is his mistake, ”he concluded.
Winker made his statement yesterday in an interview with Fox News, commenting on the situation around Ukraine. The senator recommended that US President Joe Biden, in the event of an aggravation of the situation, not exclude the possibility of a nuclear strike on Russia.
The Russian Embassy in Washington, in turn, called the words of the American senator irresponsible and ill-considered . In addition, the diplomatic mission emphasized that an American politician who works in the legislative body "does not deserve to joke with nuclear weapons."
Recently, foreign media have published materials about the alleged possibility of the Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine. The Russian side has repeatedly denied such accusations.
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4) From CNN: 'Do you believe Russia will invade?' CNN asks Ukrainian minister
" ... There have been some signs of a thaw between Moscow and Washington recently. Last week, diplomats from the two nations reached a tentative deal that would allow visas for U.S. diplomats in Russia.
Ukraine, however, is a different beast. It occupies an important place in Russian history, forming, along with Belarus, the medieval Kievan Rus that both Russia and Ukraine claim laid the foundation of their states. In a recent article, Putin described Russians and Ukrainians as one people and said “true sovereignty of Ukraine is possible only in partnership with Russia.”
But Ukraine has been an independent nation since the collapse of the Soviet Union more than 30 years ago; despite Putin’s claims of brotherhood, Kyiv’s relations with Moscow soured under his tenure. Protests [supported by US $] that erupted in 2013 led to the ouster of a [freely-elected] Moscow-leaning president, who fled to Russia. Then there was the annexation of Crimea and eight years of grinding war in Ukraine’s east, where Russian-speaking separatists fought the government with not-so-subtle Kremlin backing.
Ukraine is not likely to join NATO anytime soon, particularly given the endemic corruption in the country and a lack of institutional momentum. But pro-Western sentiment in the country is significant. Demands for greater ties with the European Union were a key driving force behind the 2013 protests and at least a plurality of Ukrainians are now in favor of membership, if not more, depending on the poll.
Though their own actions created the situation, Russian officials fear Ukraine’s deepening military ties to the United States and its allies. Officials in Moscow have complained about Western arms sales to Ukraine, as well as recent flights by U.S. strategic bombers over the Black Sea near Russian borders. Ukraine may not be a NATO member, but it acts like one.
“The Kremlin increasingly views Ukraine as a Western aircraft carrier parked just across from Rostov Oblast in southern Russia,” Eugene Rumer and Andrew Weiss of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace wrote last month. ... "
First, the words. Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, said on Fox News Sunday that “President Biden communicated to President Putin that there would be costs and consequences if harmful activities against the United States continue.” (New York Times, June 20) Sullivan failed to provide any proof of Russia’s role in “harmful activities.”
In response to the British provocations, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russian news agencies that, “We can appeal to common sense, demand respect for international law, and if that doesn’t work, we can bomb.”
The Crimea pretext
A 12-day Black Seas naval exercise called Sea Breeze 2021, led by the U.S. Navy, has followed the British provocation. In total, 32 countries are involved either as participants or observers. The 32 include many NATO members and U.S. client states Egypt, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.
According to the U.S. Navy, the exercise will involve over 5,000 troops, 32 ships and 40 aircraft. This exercise has been held annually since 1997. This one is co-hosted by the Ukrainian Navy and the U.S. Navy’s Sixth Fleet. (Defense News, June 21)
In response to the British provocations, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Russian news agencies that, “We can appeal to common sense, demand respect for international law, and if that doesn’t work, we can bomb.”
