Dear Editor:
Andrew Fedynsky, in his “Perspectives” column of March 1, rallies around yet another member of Congress as an essential contributor in the struggle for a free Ukraine.
The contributions cited by Mr. Fedynsky are overrated.
What’s important for Ukraine is to push back Vladimir Putin’s adventure. Russian casualties are a vulnerability for Mr. Putin. He is burying his dead in secret. More casualties make that harder to do.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur and other members of Congress should urge the Obama administration to provide $1 billion in defensive arms to Ukraine, including lethal equipment. The purpose is to deter further aggression and to stabilize the situation in Ukraine.
As a national security priority for the U.S., $1 billion a year is not a great deal of money. During the first six months of Operation Inherent Resolve against ISIL, the U.S. spent $1.5 billion.
It bears repeating that Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in 1994 in return for assurances of sovereignty and territorial integrity from several other nations, including the United States.
Mr. Fedynsky also neglects to address Ukrainian complicity in the current crisis.
Over 12 million people in Ukraine, nearly 49 percent of the electorate, voted for Viktor Yanukovych in the Ukrainian presidential election of 2010.
Ukraine has yet to demonstrate that its elected officials are committed to the rule of law by avoiding corruptible influences. There are things that Ukrainians need to do for themselves, if there is to be an independent Ukraine, governed by the rule of law.
Parma, Ohio