July 25, the House of representatives of the U.S. Congress 419 votes supported the strengthening of sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea.
The bill must still overcome two stages — a vote in the Senate and the signature of the President of the United States Donald trump. What signals to Ukraine are contained in this bill and why the government needs to call what is happening in the East by their names, “Apostrophe” said the diplomat, Chairman of the Board of the Fund “Maidan foreign Affairs” Bohdan Yaremenko.
To say that sanctions reached the finish line yet. Moreover, the vote in the Senate is not a formal thing. Besides, if the Senate will be a lot of comments, then start the approval procedure, which can be lengthy and complex. There’s also the possibility that the President will veto it. Therefore, it is only the first step, but it is quite serious — 419 votes in favor and 3 against. This is a good reason to believe that the bill can come into force. It is also important that it is a bipartisan — supported by both Republicans and Democrats.
Such a consolidated position in Congress can be explained by the fact that there is a convergence of interests of several groups who are interested Iran, North Korea and Russia. Also Congress is trying to demonstrate the power of the United States, and every Congressman shows his constituents how much he believes in that power. I think that these are the criteria of congressmen.
Limiting the ability of US President Donald trump, concerning the abolition of these sanctions if adopted, is a clear signal of distrust leadership skills trump in the field of foreign policy and security. Congress is trying to further force it into a corridor of opportunity from which he cannot leave without permission. So trump limit, that he did not do what the Congress and most Americans disagree.
Actions of the Ukraine, and specifically the presidential Administration go beyond the specified in this bill. Because in this bill the Crimea and the Donbass are called the same as in the statement by Kurt Volker, — components of the same war. At that time, as we are constantly trying to come up with some different status for the Donbass and the Crimea, explaining that there is some kind of hybridity in this war. I think this is a hint to the Ukrainian authorities about the need to get rid of hybrid thinking, to call a spade a spade and put the specific task of protecting Ukraine. We have, if not allies, then States actually put the same goal as us — to punish Russia for its aggression.
It’s a good sign, a positive for us. But I note that the actions of our government do not always go in line for the position that you expressed in this bill, which is now expressed by many officials in the administration of the trump.
This is a very good signal, but the victory is still achieved us. If the Ukrainian government is not ready to protect the country, fight for it, and wants to continue to negotiate within the framework of the Minsk agreements, in which there is no Crimea, but the Donbass is, we once again miss the chance, the descendants will curse us. There is no doubt.
