The bipartisan committee responsible for promoting democracy and human rights in post-Soviet states is urging the U.S. to change its approach to Russia and officially recognize Moscow as a “persistent” threat to global security. The Helsinki Commission, in a report obtained by The Hill before its release, is calling for a major shift in Washington’s strategy towards Russia, similar to the recent rethinking of relations with China. The report recommends allocating resources accordingly.
A key element of this proposed strategy is ensuring Ukraine‘s victory in its war against Russia. The report advocates for “massive” military and humanitarian aid to Kyiv and supports allowing Ukraine’s forces to strike targets deep inside Russia using U.S.-supplied weapons. These recommendations go beyond the current commitments of the Biden administration to Ukraine and conflict with the views of former President Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, and his congressional allies. Trump has argued that the U.S. is overspending on European security and has campaigned on negotiating a deal between Ukraine and Russia through direct talks with their leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Helsinki Commission’s report also stresses that Russia’s nuclear threats cannot be ignored and should be countered with sound reasoning. A congressional aide explained that the report calls for a clear plan to address and respond to potential nuclear threats and attacks, without letting fear dominate our thinking.
Furthermore, the report urges a change in how Washington views Russia, stating that policymakers should not treat the country as a superpower or near-peer to the U.S. solely because of its nuclear arsenal. Instead, the U.S. should fully engage with its global allies, particularly those on the front lines of Russian aggression, manipulation, and coercion. This stance pushes back against the rising trend of isolationism, especially within the GOP.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com