Bucks County Congressman To Donald Trump: Don't Lift Sanctions On Russia

Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick joined 20 members of the House this week to urge President Trump to keep sanctions against Russia in place.

But it may be too late.

The Treasury Department announced Thursday it would be scaling back sanctions put forward by Barack Obama on Russian intelligence agency Federalnaya Sluzhba Bezopasnosti, otherwise known as FSB, despite some Republicans calling for stronger sanctions.

“The United States must act strongly to prevent the overturning of a post-Cold War security order in Eurasia that has allowed for unprecedented peace and prosperity. We must guard against Russian objectives that seek to weaken NATO, OSCE, and the United States. As bipartisan Members of Congress who have witnessed Ukraine’s transition from a former Soviet republic to a free and democratic country, we call on the United States to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine," a letter signed by Fitzpatrick reads.

Fitzpatrick, a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, is a former FBI Supervisory Special Agent who served in Kiev, Ukraine.

Here is the full text of the letter sent by Fitzpatrick to President Trump:

President Trump:

We write to you as Co-Chairs and Members of the bipartisan House Ukraine Caucus. We renew our call for continued support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, no sanctions relief on Russia until Minsk Agreements are fulfilled, and increased U.S.-Ukraine cooperation. We urge you to take a strong position in support of the people of Ukraine and their desire to be free from Russian interference.

Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea and its ongoing war in Ukraine’s east are undermining stability in Europe. The United States must act strongly to prevent the overturning of a post-Cold War security order in Eurasia that has allowed for unprecedented peace and prosperity. We must guard against Russian objectives that seek to weaken NATO, OSCE, and the United States. As bipartisan Members of Congress who have witnessed Ukraine’s transition from a former Soviet republic to a free and democratic country, we call on the United States to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine.

We believe it is critical to our national interest that the United States stand with the people of Ukraine and with our NATO allies against Russia’s sustained and dangerously destabilizing strategy of economic sanctions, political pressure, propaganda, and cyberattacks. By ignoring Russia’s actions towards Ukraine, we not only risk Ukraine’s future, where heavy-handed Russian interference undermine hopes for an open and democratic society, but also our own national security interests in the region.

We reaffirm the need for the United States to provide political and economic support for Ukraine, including current polices (1) to uphold the imposition of sanctions until Russia abides by the ceasefire, and withdrawal of its troops and military equipment established in the Minsk Agreements; (2) to support Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty, including never to recognize Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea; and (3) to support developing Ukraine’s rule of law and economy.

The wrong approach in Ukraine has the potential to set a dangerous precedent of apathy towards the sovereignty of Eastern European states, including vital NATO allies. We restate that our support for Ukraine stems from our shared values for sovereignty, human rights, and rule of law. Furthermore, Ukraine’s success as a democratic, independent, and prosperous nation serves our national interest by helping to ensure the security of our Central and Eastern European allies. Staying strong with our time-tested allies in freedom's cause is liberty's best defense.

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