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The Republican Platform and Ukraine
July 22, 2016

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By: Ben Cardin

Re “A Most Extreme Republican Platform” (editorial, July 19):

Given the trajectory of the Republican Party over the last two decades, culminating in the nomination of Donald Trump for president, it comes as little surprise that the party platform is the most extreme it has ever been.

From my foreign policy role in the Senate, I want to call attention to the Republican Party’s apparently new position that the United States should not provide military assistance to Ukraine, as alluded to in its platform.

There is broad, bipartisan support for standing steadfast with Ukraine through political, economic and military support after Russia’s invasion two years ago. Russia’s aggression violated international law, robbed Ukraine of its sovereign territory, and killed and wounded thousands of people.

Mr. Trump speaks glowingly of President Vladimir V. Putin and underestimates the damage done by Russia in Eastern Europe. It is also worth pointing out that Paul Manafort, the Trump campaign chairman, served as a consultant for Viktor F. Yanukovich, the ousted president of Ukraine, who now lives in exile in Russia.

Mr. Trump has already indicated that he is willing to walk away from our allies in Eastern Europe. It is unfortunate that the Republican Party now reflects that dangerous thinking.

BEN CARDIN

Washington

The writer, a Democrat, is a United States senator from Maryland and the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee.

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