U.S. senators have talked about a weak position of the U.S. administration in terms of supporting Ukraine during the political crisis and the absence of a strong position with regard to Russia.
The State Department, in turn, spoke about the need for a peaceful
solution to the current standoff in Ukraine and said that all tools “are
on the table,” including a ban on entry.
The Ukrainian question was discussed at a meeting of the U.S. Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations in Washington on Wednesday. The hearing,
entitled “Implications of the Crisis in Ukraine,” was chaired by the
head of the committee, Senator Robert Menendez.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
Victoria Nuland, while commenting on the protests in Ukraine, said:
“Like the vast majority of Ukrainians, the United States and our
partners in the European Union want to see the current stand-off
resolved politically, democratically and above all, peacefully.”
“This last point applies to the government and protestors alike, and
we condemn the actions of rioters outside a Kyiv court building on
Jan. 10. However, the use of violence and acts of repression carried
out by government security forces and their surrogates have compelled us
to make clear publicly and privately to the government of Ukraine that
we will consider a broad range of tools at our disposal if those in
positions of authority in Ukraine employ or encourage violence against
their own citizens,” she said.
Nuland noted that the people in Ukraine had taken to the streets “for
basic human dignity and justice, clean and accountable government, and
economic and political independence of Ukraine.”
“These same principles and values are the cornerstone of all free
democracies, and America supports them in every country on the planet,”
she said.
During a question-and-answer session, Menendez returned to the issue
of sanctions. He said that Nuland mentioned in her speech that the State
Department remains open regarding the possible use of reactions if
President Viktor Yanukovych’s government continues to act against
demonstrators. He said that sanctions, including a ban on entry, were
options that should be seriously considered if this kind of violence
against peaceful demonstrators continues. He also asked Nuland whether
these elements were an option that the State Department might consider.
Nuland, in turn, said that all tools were “on the table.”
The senator, in turn, said that if Yanukovych’s government acts as
the senators had earlier seen, then, in his opinion, they will not wait
until the State Department considers the sanctions and a ban on entry
against those who committed these acts.
In addition, in her speech Nuland urged the Ukrainian authorities to
make their assertion of the European choice “credible through concrete
actions to restore government accountability, rule of law and engagement
with Europe and the IMF.”
In this regard, Nuland commended the EU “for leaving the door open
for Ukraine” and hailed the IMF’s readiness “to work with Ukraine when
the government is willing to roll up its sleeves and address the serious
structural and macro-economic problems that have plagued the country
for years.”
“The IMF is offering a proven, if arduous, long-term diet plan back
to good economic health. Like any tough health regime, it requires work
and sacrifice but the rewards are great. When Ukraine’s leaders are
ready to invest in that kind of program, the United States and our EU
partners will help them sustain the commitment. We urge them to restart
consultations now,” she said.
Nuland also spoke about the upcoming presidential elections in Ukraine.
“The United States will work hard to support a free and fair
presidential election in 2015… The United States will focus on
supporting the integrity of the process, and not support any specific
candidates or parties. Like the rest of our policy toward Ukraine, our
assistance will be carefully coordinated with the EU,” she said.
She also referred to the re-run of parliamentary elections held on
Dec. 15, 2013, which “was not conducted according to international
standards, especially with respect to alleged misconduct during the
election campaign.”
“We call on the Government of Ukraine to thoroughly investigate all
reported violations, and to prosecute those responsible for them,”
Nuland said.
She said that “there is also, unfortunately, a good deal of
disinformation in Russia about the potential effect that the EU’s
Eastern Partnership could have on its economy and arrangements with
neighbors.”
“We have encouraged the EU to redouble its efforts to counter false
narratives in Russia and actively make its case that a more prosperous,
European Ukraine will lift the whole neighborhood, both economically and
in terms of democratic stability,” Nuland said.
