WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) led Members in their respective committees today in a letter urging President Donald Trump to stop supporting Vladimir Putin on the heels of the United States siding with Russia and breaking with longstanding allies at the United Nations on Monday.
The Members wrote: “Earlier this week, the United States voted against a United Nations General Assembly Resolution ‘Advancing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine’ on the third anniversary of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“Failing to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine weakens U.S. national security, encourages Putin’s effort to quash Ukraine’s right to exist, and reflects a ‘might makes right’ policy that will lead to more war and less prosperity for the rest of the 21st Century.
“The vote against the resolution could result in serious risk for the United States and its interests around the world. It emboldens China, which will take the lesson of U.S. acceptance of such invasions as a green light to use its rapidly growing and modernizing People’s Liberation Army to attack and attempt to seize Taiwan.
“When the United States votes with Belarus – a Russian puppet state – and North Korea – a failed, rogue, nuclear-armed pariah – and against countries like Ireland and Australia, it sends a harmful signal. Siding with the world’s dictators and against its democracies empowers those dictators to continue to oppress their own people, attack others, and make the world a poorer and more violent place. Siding against democracies, including our longest standing and closest allies, undercuts our own democratic system that has made us the richest and most powerful country in history.
“We urge you to change your position considering these realities. The best way to end the war in Ukraine is to support Ukraine with arms, not give aid and comfort to Russia, its puppets and client states, and dictators around the world.
“Congress will work with you in a bipartisan and overwhelming manner if you move to continue and deepen support for Ukraine, strengthen our national security, and force Russia to end its war of aggression, including by ensuring any negotiations result in a just, durable peace—not a reward for seizing territory by force. We look forward to working with you toward such a policy.”
The letter is led by Ranking Member Smith and Ranking Member Meeks and signed by Members of their respective committees.
Click here for a copy of the letter and the complete list of signatures.
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