Washington, D.C. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) continued his calls for a sustained U.S. commitment to Ukraine in the face of a Russian-backed separatist offensive. In a POLITICO Magazine op-ed, Portman laid out the need for military equipment in addition to the economic, political and humanitarian assistance the U.S. has already provided. “In short, we need a strategy that seeks to shape outcomes, not be shaped by them,” Portman wrote.

Portman added that a U.S. failure to honor its commitment to Ukraine as it rejects repression and chooses democracy will raise questions about America’s ability to lead. Moreover, inaction could have real consequences for other U.S. national security priorities and jeopardize American counterproliferation efforts around the world. Portman notes, “Some argue that events in Ukraine, thousands of miles from our border, are none of our concern. I have a different view. Our interest in the Ukrainian conflict reflects both the values Americans hold dear as well as the significant strategic consequences of inaction.”

Excerpts are below and the full op-ed can be found here.

Unrest in Ukraine Threatens World Peace
Sen. Rob Portman
POLITICO Magazine
January 26, 2015

Even as chaos in the Middle East and terrorist attacks in France have refocused our attention on the danger posed by radical Islam, we must not forget the uncertainty and violence that continue to plague Ukraine, threatening the peace of the world. The recent shelling of Mariupol, which killed dozens of civilians, and the Russian-backed separatist offensive throughout southeastern Ukraine is yet another reminder that this conflict will not solve itself and will continue to get worse until the United States and its allies get serious about stopping it.
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Some argue that events in Ukraine, thousands of miles from our border, are none of our concern. I have a different view. Our interest in the Ukrainian conflict reflects both the values Americans hold dear as well as the significant strategic consequences of inaction.

When the Soviet Union fell and the people of Central and Eastern Europe took back the liberty that had been stolen from them decades before, the U.S. made a solemn promise: Embrace democracy, freedom, transparency and the rule of law — and we will embrace you. This past year, the world watched the Ukrainian people brave Russian threats, intimidation and aggression and choose a new future for their nation, one dedicated to those principles. I saw this commitment firsthand in May 2014 when I had the honor of leading a congressional delegation, with my colleague from Maryland, Sen. Ben Cardin, to monitor the Ukrainian presidential elections.
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In addition to their impact on U.S. nonproliferation efforts, events in Ukraine represent a direct challenge to the U.S.-led international order. Confidence in America’s willingness to use our unmatched political, military and economic capabilities to uphold this order deters potential challengers and incentivizes other countries to play by the rules, which prevents us from actually having to use those capabilities. If the credibility of this commitment is in doubt, then the stability and openness upon which U.S. economic prosperity and national security depend is jeopardized and the chance for violence, instability and economic collapse increases.
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We must not downplay the importance of the economic, political and humanitarian aid we have provided, nor the economic and political aspects of this crisis. Indeed, there are many economic and political reforms the Ukrainians will need to make to secure long-term peace and prosperity. But Ukraine cannot be expected to make these difficult but necessary reforms if it cannot even control its own borders or maintain law and order. There is a military dimension to this crisis that we simply cannot ignore, despite repeated claims from the administration that “there is no military solution.” Moscow continues to believe that military force is a viable option to achieve its goals, and unless the U.S. and its allies help the Ukrainians prove otherwise, we shouldn’t expect any change in behavior.

The direct Russian military involvement in Ukraine has been on full display for months. Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have been killed or wounded, thousands more have been forced to flee their homes, and entire communities have been devastated.

In the face of such aggression, Ukraine needs antitank weapons to defend against armored assaults; modern air defense systems to defend against Russian air superiority; UAVs to monitor its borders and detect violations of its sovereignty and of the cease-fire; secure communications gear to prevent Russia from accessing Ukrainian plans and troop locations; advanced counter-battery radar to target the artillery batteries responsible for so many of the causalities in the conflict; and elite rapid-reaction forces capable of responding to Russian border provocations and the fast-moving, asymmetric “hybrid war” tactics Russia used to destabilize the country.

But most important, Ukraine needs a sustained commitment from the U.S. and our allies. Working together, we must pursue a comprehensive, proactive strategy that strengthens NATO, deters Russian aggression, and gives Ukraine the political, economic and military support it needs to maintain its independence. In short, we need a strategy that seeks to shape outcomes, not be shaped by them.
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The Ukrainian people have rejected the corruption and repression of the past, choosing instead the path of democracy and openness. Through its aggression, Russia is trying to send a message to Ukraine and the world that America and the West are indecisive and weak and that their lofty ideals and proclamations of support are meaningless in the face of Russian power. From Kiev to Tallinn, Warsaw to Brussels, and Moscow to Beijing, the world is watching how we respond to this challenge and questioning whether the U.S. still has the ability to lead, or if it even wants to. Let’s leave no doubt.