Ukraine's Ambassador: Trump's comments on Crimea send wrong message to world

“This bloody war, which has already taken more than 10,000 Ukrainian lives and internally displaced almost 2 million, is a fight of a young democracy for independence and its choice to be part of the West and embrace Western values. Neglecting or trading the cause of a nation inspired by those values — cemented by Americans in their fight for independence and civil rights — would send a wrong message to the people of Ukraine and many others in the world who look to the U.S. as to a beacon of freedom and democracy,” Chaly writes. According to the Ukrainian ambassador, comments by Trump “have raised serious concerns in Kyiv and beyond Ukraine,” taking into account the U.S. strong support for Ukraine. “Many in Ukraine are unsure what to think, since Trump's comments stand in sharp contrast to the Republican party platform. Since the Russian aggression, there has been bipartisan support for U.S. sanctions against Russia, and for such sanctions to remain in place until the territorial integrity of Ukraine is restored. Efforts to enhance Ukraine's defense capacity are supported across the aisle, as well, to ensure that Ukraine becomes strong enough to deter Russia’s aggression,” Chaly stressed. The Ukrainian ambassador says that statements by Trump contradict the U.S. position, “a country seen by partners as a strong defender of democracy and international order”. “Even if Trump's comments are only speculative, and do not really reflect a future foreign policy, they call for appeasement of an aggressor and support the violation of a sovereign country's territorial integrity and another's breach of international law,” Chaly said.