Gardner, Bacon seek international actions against Russia for attack on Ukraine ships

U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) this week denounced Russia’s recent attacks on and subsequent seizure of Ukrainian naval ships in the Sea of Azov and called on the American government to take a stand.

Sen. Gardner, an outspoken critic of Russia and President Vladimir Putin, released the sternest comments, citing the country’s violation of international law and called on U.S. President Donald Trump to take several actions.

“Russia’s illegal and unprovoked aggression toward Ukraine cannot be tolerated and demands a serious response by the United States and a community of nations,” said Sen. Gardner on Nov. 26. “I urge the administration to urgently outline a series of diplomatic, economic and defense posture measures to deter the Kremlin.”

For instance, the senator said there should be additional deployments of U.S. and NATO assets in the region, as well as sanctions against senior Russian officials and their families, and a reduction in the Russian diplomatic presence in the United States.

On Nov. 25, the Ukraine vessels were traveling toward the Kerch Strait, which is the only entrance to the Sea of Azov where a large swath of the country’s coastline is located.

The Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait, which separates Crimea from Russia, became shared territorial waters in 2004 with a ratified treaty signed by the two countries.

However, Russia in 2014 illegally seized Crimea and on Sunday asserted that the Ukraine ships had sailed into Russian waters and then fired upon them and seized the vessels.

“I also renew my call on the State Department to designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism under U.S. law,” said Sen. Gardner, who earlier this year sponsored S. 2780, which would require a determination to designate the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism. The bipartisan S. 2780 is under consideration by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“Putin’s global campaign to test our resolve and undermine the United States and our allies cannot go unanswered,” added Sen. Gardner, who is a member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission.

Rep. Bacon called Russia’s attacks on the Ukraine ships – two armored boats and a tugboat – “typical of the bully Vladimir Putin.”

“Russia once again is using military force and intimidation against its neighbor, Ukraine,” Rep. Bacon said. “This is a reminder of why we need a strong alliance with NATO and an active American presence in the Baltic states and Poland, and with our other NATO partners in Eastern Europe.”

Rep. Bacon said he also supports America strengthening its ties with Ukraine “so that it can maintain the independence it gained when the Cold War ended.”

“The Ukrainians want freedom and independence and we stand with them,” said Rep. Bacon.