Bob Schaffer: “Ukraine has demonstrated a consistent willingness to develop a robust friendship and mutually beneficial partnership…”

“Ukraine has demonstrated a consistent willingness to develop a robust friendship and mutually beneficial partnership with the United States. At our request, Ukraine has abolished the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world and has maintained a consistent nonproliferation policy ever since. I might add that in some cases this has been done at considerable fiscal detriment to Ukraine. The refusal of aid to Iran in their nuclear program is one such program that warrants our praise and appreciation. Ukraine has successfully and peacefully negotiated border treaties with all of its neighboring countries and has maintained a distinctive partnership with NATO. Ukraine has made significant contributions to regional and international peace and stability through its participation in NATO-led peacekeeping missions. The economic growth of Ukraine is integral to its development as a democracy. Without Ukraine's stable government and infrastructure, the hope of further Democratic reforms will fade because a government preoccupied with its own survival cannot guarantee even basic rights for its citizens. There are members of government in Ukraine, hard-line Communists, who would like to see Ukraine return to the days before Ukraine's independence. It has been a consistent struggle for Ukraine to come so far, and I think, frankly, the timing of the cut proposed in the bill here could not be worse.”