Fifty-four years ago, on October 22, 1962, President John F. Kennedy announced that the Soviet Union had placed nuclear weapons in Cuba, and, in response, the United States had set-up a blockade around the island to prevent any other weapons from entering Cuba.
Mr. Kennedy argued that war-like behavior, “if allowed to grow unchecked and unchallenged, ultimately leads to war.”
In a statement, Ukrainian National Association President Joseph Lesawyer, stated: “…As descendants of Ukrainian immigrants who had experienced bitter persecution by Moscow, we wish to stress that we fully agree with your characterization of Communist Russia as a slave empire seeking world domination… We assure you, Mr. President, of our unqualified backing in every move you make in order to avert the Russian threat from Cuba and to bring about defeat of communism everywhere so that our captive brothers behind the Iron Curtain can enjoy a peaceful life in free and unfettered nations…”
In a statement by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, President Dr. Lev E. Dobriansky stated: “We heartily applaud your firm action on the Soviet Russian build-up in Cuba, and we shall support every subsequent action you may take to enforce the Monroe Doctrine in this hemisphere and to liberate the Cuban people… We commend you for your forthright reference to the latest captive nation as the ‘captive people of Cuba.’ Since the captive status of Cuba is essentially no different from that of any non-Russian nation in Moscow’s Eurasian empire, we urge that greater emphasis be placed in the United Nations and elsewhere on the captive nations in Europe and Asia…”
Dr. Dobriansky also thanked President Kennedy for his message of greeting on the occasion of the UCCA convention that was held the previous weekend in New York.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Adlai Stevenson urged the U.N. Security Council to call for the immediate removal of missiles and other offensive weapons from Cuba. He warned that the U.S. was deadly serious over the nuclear threat from Cuba. “The actions we take may determine the future of civilization.”
This year, on October 7, Moscow positioned Iskander nuclear-capable missiles (range over 435 miles) in Kallinigrad – between NATO members Lithuania and Poland. Observers called the move a “provocation” and a challenge to Washington.
Lithuanian Foreign Affairs Minister Linas Linkevicius said the deployment of the missiles violated a nuclear weapons treaty.
Russia claims the missiles are part of a drill, and had made a similar move in 2015. This year, Russia also indicated its intent to base missiles in Cuba once again.
Source: “UNA backs President Kennedy on Cuba,” “UCCA fully endorses President Kennedy’s action on Cuba,” The Ukrainian Weekly, October 27, 1962.