“New sanctions should be imposed precisely over Debaltseve”

After Russia violated the Minsk Accords once again, in particular by capturing the city of Debaltseve, the Ukrainians have focused their attention on the Obama administration’s looming decision to provide (or not) Ukraine with lethal weapons or impose new sanctions on Russia. Our Ambassador to the US Oleksandr Motsyk offered his perspective on the issue in an exclusive interview for The Day, given after he kindly agreed to receive our international affairs editor at the embassy in Washington.

“We see some progress on the issue of arms sales to Ukraine, because an increasing number of US cabinet members come to support this decision,” Motsyk said when starting our talk. “The US administration is still deliberating on it, though. There is an understanding that the militants are armed to the teeth, that Russia has flooded that area in eastern Ukraine with its troops, militants, and the most modern heavy weapons, and it seems logical against this background to recognize that Ukraine also has the right to receive defensive weapons, because we are not going to fight on foreign soil, but have to defend ours. This right is inalienable.”

 We understand that the decision to provide lethal aid now depends on Obama, but are you considering other options? I mean in particular that bill which would allocate one billion dollars worth of military assistance, as proposed by a bipartisan group of senators?

“It is a matter of agreement between the two camps and the consent of the administration. Both government branches will work on this issue, and the outcome will depend on their ability to find a common ground. It is important that we currently enjoy support of the American people as well as its executive and the congress. It is also important that America leads the international community’s efforts as it tries to help Ukraine and find ways to resolve the situation and restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

“It is important to have America and the EU united in their work, because it allows the joint effort to be more effective.

“The question of sanctions is important as well. Although they have an effect, it has turned out to be not enough to stop the aggression. That is why we say that sanctions should be strengthened in four sectors: banking, energy, military industry, and high technology. The Kremlin must understand this, because it will have to contend with very serious and worsening economic problems. Now, with the Russian economy in a decline, they need to look for a peaceful settlement of the situation and leave Ukraine alone. It would give Russia another chance for a normal relationship, normal communications, and economic ties with the world.

“Russia violated all the rules that have been set by the international community, trampling on international law and the Budapest Memorandum as well as violating bilateral Ukrainian-Russian treaties and throwing away the Black Sea Fleet agreements.”

 Should not the US have imposed new sanctions over Debaltseve?

“We believe that further sanctions should be imposed precisely over Debaltseve, both by the US and the EU. The attack on Debaltseve was a brazen violation of the agreements to which Russia is a signatory. Russia should go back to upholding these agreements or be immediately punished for violations. Since we are not seeing any signs of backing down, new sanctions should be imposed on it precisely over Debaltseve. In general, the issue of sanctions should be revisited after something happens, officials should not say that Russia would be in trouble if it does something. We must have sanctions authorized in advance, and once Russia has made another aggressive step, they should be imposed automatically.”

 Going back to the Budapest Memorandum topic, what would be a better fit for us if we are to have real guarantees from the US: getting the status of a major non-NATO ally or signing a security treaty, like that between the US and Japan?

“We discussed that major ally issue before, and you know how it ended. We need security guarantees and we cannot stay in this gray area. Especially now, when our situation is so grave.

“How to do it? We need to give a deeper thought to it, to work with the US and the EU. The issue is there and it should be settled.”

Is the presence of a Ukrainian Diaspora in the US helpful for solving this issue?

“The Ukrainian community provides very active help in almost all aspects of our relations with the US, and more generally as well. We are in permanent contact with the community when bringing our issues to the executive and the congress. The Ukrainian community is now doing a lot to help our armed forces. They mourn, worry, they experience the aggression just as we do in Ukraine. Former US ambassadors to Ukraine do a lot for Ukraine as well.”