On November 18, a diverse group of military and foreign policy leaders released a letter urging Congress to enhance and expand U.S. economic, military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine as part of the final negotiations on fiscal year 2016 appropriations. The signatories include former ambassadors, military leaders and officials in Democratic and Republican administrations, including former CIA Director Gen. David H. Petraeus (USA, ret.), former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Adm. James Stavridis (USN, ret.), former Undersecretary of Defense Michele Flournoy, and former Undersecretary of State Paula Dobriansky. The letter was sent to Thad Cochran, chairman, and Barbara Mikulski, ranking member, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate; Hal Rogers, chairman, and Nita Lowey, ranking member, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives.
We write today as individuals with deep expertise on Ukraine, many of us former ambassadors or officials in Democratic and Republican administrations, to urge an expansion of U.S. assistance to Ukraine as part of the final negotiations on fiscal year 2016 appropriations.
On the Maidan in Kyiv, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians stood up for their country’s European future in the face of bitter winter weather and heavily armed police who killed more than 100 protesters. In the year and a half since, Ukraine has made important progress on several fronts, including holding free and fair national and local elections, instituting political, economic and governance reforms, and negotiating a landmark debt renegotiation. But, as Ukrainians have worked to create a new, Western-looking government, they have been confronted with a multi-front war from Russia that continues to threaten Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence.
The support that America has provided to Ukraine since 2014 has been vital in providing a foundation for the people of Ukraine to build the vibrant democracy that they demand and deserve. But Ukraine’s stability and its sovereign role in a united Europe remain under siege. Accordingly, we believe a redoubling of assistance from America and our European allies is vital at this time. We urge Congress in the final FY 2016 funding negotiations to increase U.S. assistance and support by providing:
$3 billion in macro-economic assistance: tools include loan guarantees, direct budget support grants, or debt swaps as well as assistance to support reforms in key sectors, such as banking, judiciary and energy, and to encourage investment in Ukraine.
$1 billion in military equipment and training support, including defensive lethal assistance as authorized by the Ukraine Freedom Support Act.
A minimum of $200 million in additional immediate humanitarian aid to meet the funding gap identified by the U.N. Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) as Ukraine grapples with 1.5 million internally displaced persons. Increased resources to assist Ukraine in countering Russia’s massive disinformation campaign.
The potential for a prosperous and democratic Ukraine is limitless. With strong U.S. support, an independent and free Ukraine can thrive as a democracy in the heart of Europe.
Moscow’s ambitions go beyond imposing its will on Ukraine. It is in our national interest to stop Kremlin aggression in Ukraine and to demonstrate the falsity of the Russian narrative equating democracy and reform with chaos. We urge action on an expanded assistance package to help Ukraine achieve this bright future.
Thank you for your consideration of our views.
Sincerely,
William Danvers, former deputy secretary-general of the OECD and former deputy staff director, U.S. Department of State
Paula Dobriansky, former undersecretary of state for democracy and global affairs
Chris Dodd, former member of the U.S. Senate (D-Conn.), former member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission
Eric Edelman, former U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, former U.S. ambassador to Turkey and Finland
Michele Flournoy, former U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy
Mark Green, former U.S. ambassador to Tanzania, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives (R-Wis.)
William Green Miller, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine (1993-1998)
John Herbst, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine (2003-2006)
Barry Jackson, former assistant to the president and chief of staff to the speaker of the House
David Kramer, former assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor
Michael McFaul, director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University, former U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation
Gen. David H. Petraeus, Chairman of the KKR Global Institute, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, former Commander of the U.S. Central Command
Roman Popadiuk, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine (1992-1993)
Stephen Rickard, executive director of the Open Society Policy Institute
Adm. James Stavridis (USN, ret.), former commander of the U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe
Melanne Verveer, former U.S. ambassador for global women’s issues
Kurt Volker, former U.S. ambassador to NATO
Gen. Charles F. Wald (USAF, ret.), former deputy commander of the U.S. European Command
Kenneth R. Weinstein, President and CEO, Hudson Institute
Copies of this letter were sent to: Sen. Lindsey Graham, chairman, and Sen. Patrick Leahy, ranking member, State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee; and Rep. Kay Granger, chairwoman, State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee.