President Joe Biden’s secret trip to Ukraine on Feb. 20 left an important message for Russia and its ally China because if Russian President Vladimir Putin isn’t stopped at Ukraine, he’ll very likely do the same with other former Soviet satellite states, according to Rep. Michael Lawler (R-N.Y.).
“I think it is critically important that Vladimir Putin not be successful in this mission. If he is allowed to succeed, he will not stop there,” Lawler said in an interview recorded on Feb. 22 on “Capitol Report,” a political news program on NTD, The Epoch Times’ sister media outlet.
“And I am confident that if he succeeds in Ukraine, he will go into Moldova and other former Soviet satellite countries.”
Lawler said that the visit was significant because the first anniversary of the Ukraine invasion is approaching and it’s important to continue to show Putin that there’s a united opposition to his invasion of Ukraine and for violating its sovereignty.
“And so, it is important that we speak with one voice that the United States and our allies around the world continue to oppose Russia, and provide Ukraine with the support that they need, militarily and financially to win this war,” Lawler told the host, Steve Lance.
Putin did not directly respond to Biden’s trip. However, in a state-organized event on Wednesday, he announced that Russia will pull out of the new START treaty with the United States, indicating that the country will ramp-up its nuclear armament.
“I am forced to announce today that Russia is suspending its participation in the strategic offensive arms treaty,” Putin said in his address to the nation on the occasion of the Defender of the Fatherland Day, a Russian holiday that honors the country’s armed forces.
The START treaty was signed in 2010 between President Barack Obama and his Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and it was the last intact nuclear arms control pact with the United States. It limited both countries to 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers.
“I think it’s just one more example of the irrational behavior that we’ve seen by Putin over the last a year plus. So, I think we need to continue to be firm and resolute in dealing with Russia and including looking at increasing sanctions,” said Lawler.
He emphasized that the United States should ramp up its military aid to Ukraine so that it can expeditiously win the war. “Really ensure that Vladimir Putin’s defeat is permanent.”
Russia–China Alliance
Lawler said that the outcome of the Ukraine crisis will have a direct impact on communist China, which he described as America’s “greatest geopolitical foe.”
“What President Xi would do with respect to Taiwan if Russia is to succeed here!” said Lawler.
Near the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Chinese regime released a 12-point peace plan on Friday.
Titled: “China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis,” among other things it calls for abandoning what the CCP termed as “cold war mentality.”
Lawler is of the opinion that the CCP Chinese have “long been in cahoots with Russia” and they along with Iran and North Korea formulate the new “axis of evil.”
“We need to ensure that the actions that we are taking, continue to put the United States in a strong position economically, militarily, and from a national security perspective, and that we are holding these bad actors accountable for what they are doing around the world to frankly undermine democracy and freedom across the globe,” said Lawler.
From The Epoch Times