The Helsinki Commission, tasked with supporting democracy and human rights in post-Soviet states, has released a report calling for a departure from the post-Cold War status quo in US-Russia relations and advocating for the country to be labeled a “persistent” threat to global security, according to The Hill.
The Biden administration has largely isolated Russia diplomatically and economically, however they’ve been cautious in their military aid to Ukraine, providing support incrementally to assess Russia’s boundaries and avoid provoking nuclear escalation. Putin’s nuclear threats prevent the US from allowing Ukraine to use western-supplied weapons for long-range strikes inside Russia.
The report emphasizes the need for “massive” military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including allowing Ukrainian forces to strike deep into Russian territory using US-provided weapons, the Hill reports after obtaining the report ahead of its publication.
This stance goes beyond the current commitments of the Biden administration and contrasts sharply with the positions of presidential candidate Donald Trump and some of his congressional allies.
The Hill mentions a joint op-ed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump, where they argued that direct talks with Putin could resolve the conflict and avert nuclear confrontation.
Ukraine dismissed this perspective, pointing out that Ukraine has already crossed several of Russia’s stated “red lines” without triggering nuclear retaliation.
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), the Republican chair of the Helsinki committee, dismissed the possibility of Trump reaching a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin if re-elected.
“Putin is not anybody that you can reach an agreement with, that would be substantive, that would hold,” Wilson told The Hill.
Russia international law violations
The report argues that the United States must prepare for long-term contestation with Russia, citing Moscow’s history of violating international laws and norms.
These include the annexation of Crimea and occupation of parts of eastern Ukraine in 2014, the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the 2008 invasion of Georgia. The report also cites Russia’s suppression of political opposition both domestically and internationally, its meddling in US and other nations’ elections, and its detention of American citizens as further evidence of this pattern.
Calls for increased military support to Ukraine
The report calls for a break from 30 years of policy that sought to moderate Russia’s behavior through cooperation and economic incentives.
According to The Hill, the report recommends addressing Russia’s nuclear threats with “sound reasoning” rather than allowing fear to dominate policy decisions. It also advocates for a shift away from viewing Russia as a superpower solely due to its nuclear arsenal.
The commission’s recommendations include increased military support, economic investment, and soft power initiatives in countries vulnerable to Russian influence.
“Through persistent efforts geared towards fostering prosperity and democracy and countering Russia’s authoritarian influence, we can minimize Russia’s ability to threaten free societies,” the report states, according to The Hill.
While some Republicans, frustrated by the prolonged conflict in Ukraine and the substantial US financial support, have called for direct intervention in peace negotiations, the report’s stance aligns more closely with those who view Putin as an unreliable negotiator.
The Hill notes that the report’s conclusions are likely to be embraced by key Republican lawmakers focused on foreign policy, despite growing opposition to Ukraine support within some segments of the party.
About Helsinki Commission
The Helsinki Commission, formally known as the US Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), is an independent US government agency created in 1976 to monitor and encourage compliance with the Helsinki Accords, which were signed by 35 nations, including the US and the Soviet Union and aimed at improving relations between the Communist bloc and the West during the Cold War.
The Commission is composed of members from both the US Senate and House of Representatives, along with representatives from the Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce.
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