Russia clarifies it is no friend of the U.S and our Allies

Russia made it clear on Friday that they are not looking for peace in Ukraine.

About Ukraine, Putin falsely told the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (Putin says 'the whole of Ukraine is ours' - in theory | Reuters) that “Russians and Ukrainians are one people and in that sense the whole of Ukraine is ours.” 

Russians and Ukrainians have not been one people since the destruction of Kyiv by the Mongols in 1240. It’s akin to describing the French, Italians, and Spanish as one people since they were all part of the Roman Empire once upon a time. 

Through this statement, Putin has made it clear that he has no intention of giving up on taking over all of Ukraine. He has also made it clear that his invasion has nothing to do with NATO but everything to do with his intolerance of a free and democratic Ukraine. He is backing this up with fresh advances into the Sumy region, wanting to create a buffer. 

In addition, Putin said, “We have a saying or a parable. Wherever the foot of a Russian soldier steps, that is ours.” 

Well, Russian soldiers have stepped all the way West to France and all the way East to Alaska. Therefore, no land in Europe or the Western United States is free from Russian imperialism. Putin doesn’t want peace. He wants his Russian Empire back and even more territory if we give it to him.

During the weekend, Putin Ally, Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council said (Putin ally says countries now ready to supply Iran with nuclear weapons) that “countries are ready to supply Iran with nuclear weapons.”

Not only is Putin continuing to threaten Ukraine and Europe, but Russia is suggesting that it will arm Iran, a key U.S adversary, with nuclear weapons after the Trump Administration just attacked Iran’s nuclear program. 

Putin has no interest in peace. He only has an interest in weakening the United States and our Allies while bolstering our enemies like Iran. How can we continue to sit on the sidelines and court Russia as a friend?

Russia has proven over again that it is no friend of the United States. It’s time for the United States to resume treating them like the enemy they are and pass the Russian Sanctions bill, as well as fresh aid packages to Ukraine. 

If not, the U.S runs the risk of being weakened by an emboldened Russia.