54° and Sunny
Auchincloss on Ukraine: We Must Support Democracy and Protect America's Allies
Thanks to the Office of Congressman Jake Auchincloss for sharing this statement with Westwood Minute.
Washington, DC — On Monday, February 7, 2022, Congressman Jake Auchincloss, (D, MA-04), a Marine veteran of the war in Afghanistan and current major in the reserves, released the following statement ahead of President Biden’s meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz:
“Members of Congress have a responsibility to protect democracy at home and abroad - and to hold the president to account for that imperative. It is clear that the Biden Administration is taking the necessary steps to protect Ukraine’s nascent democracy and to uphold the commitments the United States made in the 1994 Budapest Agreement.
“Great nations keep their word. We must stand behind our promise to Ukraine to support its security as a sovereign nation. This contrasts starkly with Russia’s engagement in the region under Vladimir Putin, who has taken aggressive action to annex Crimea, and to now threaten all of Ukraine, with no regard for the sanctity of international treaties.
“The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, forged in an earlier era of Russian aggression against Europe, has responded assertively and appropriately to pressure Mr. Putin to de-escalate Russian saber-rattling at Ukraine’s border. NATO is also preparing for all scenarios to assure that its member states are secure in the near term. In the long term, whether Ukraine decides to join NATO is Ukraine’s decision. It is not Russia’s.
“President Biden’s actions thus far have demonstrated moral clarity: we are at a critical juncture in history. By challenging international commitments, Russia challenges the international rules-based system itself and hopes to unravel our transatlantic alliance and to pressure democracies into failure. A full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops would result in devastating losses and incalculable damage.
“We cannot fail ourselves or our allies. Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is enshrined in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights – foundational documents of the American-led, postwar commitment to peace and justice. It is critical that key NATO allies like Germany adhere to these principles and keep their commitment to NATO and its allies. Together we must continue to engage Russia based upon these principles.
“As the Administration continues to pursue a resolution through diplomacy, I remain committed in Congress to supporting democracies and to standing with our NATO allies. This is a pivotal moment that requires a united front, or we risk the beginning of an era rife with conflict and tyranny. We must work towards a resolution that ensures our allies’ safety, sovereignty, and democratic longevity.”
