Washington – Senator McCain Says U.S. ‘Must Stand Up To Vladimir Putin’

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    Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (3rd R), U.S. Senators John McCain (2nd R) and Lindsey Graham (R) meet with Ukrainian service members in Shirokino settlement near Mariupol, Ukraine, December 31, 2016. Mikhail Palinchak/Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERSWashington – Republican Senator John McCain said on Sunday the United States could only improve its relations with Russia by taking a tough stance with President Putin, calling for stronger sanctions against Moscow.

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    On a tour of the Baltic states, Ukraine and Georgia, McCain and other senators assured the former Soviet-dominated countries that the United States would support them, despite President-elect Donald Trump’s praise of Putin and expressions of doubts about NATO.

    “We will strongly urge our colleagues toward more meaningful and stronger sanctions against Russia because of their attack on the United States of America,” McCain told reporters in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi.

    “I believe that we must continue to improve our relations and to understand that Vladimir Putin – unless we stand up to him – will continue his aggression and we must stand up to Vladimir Putin,” McCain said.

    On Thursday, President Barack Obama ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies over the hacking of U.S. political groups during the election.

    But Trump signalled during his campaign that he might take a softer line with Moscow, and on Friday congratulated Putin for not retaliating to the expulsions, tweeting: “Great move on delay (by V. Putin) – I always knew he was very smart!”

    Earlier, in Kiev, McCain vowed continued U.S. support to Ukraine.

    “I send the message from the American people – we are with you, your fight is our fight and we will win together,” McCain was quoted as saying by Ukrainian President Poroshenko’s press service.

    “In 2017 we will defeat the invaders and send them back where they came from. To Vladimir Putin – you will never defeat the Ukrainian people and deprive them of their independence and freedom,” McCain said.

    Reinforcing the line that the U.S. Congress could oppose any move by Trump to take a softer line on Russia, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, travelling with McCain and others, said it was time “to push back against Putin, to be a better friend to our allies here including Georgia.”

    “So 2017 is a year of offence and we’re going to tell our colleagues what’s at stake if we don’t push back,” Graham said.


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    7 Comments
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    Buchwalter
    Buchwalter
    7 years ago

    Senator McCain is a relic we must embrace Wladimir. Due process of law maybe an atomic cocktail, or a stab with a poison syringe tipped umbrella . This how you eliminate opposition instead of old fashion ballot. In the back ground are his Slavic supremacist. Good old NKVD method

    Buchwalter
    Buchwalter
    7 years ago

    The evil of post-communist Russia Alexander Dugin the Alfred Rosenberg of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church

    7 years ago

    How about “standing up ” to Communist Cuba, Terrorist IRAN, Communist Venezuala, Communist China, Communist North Korea, Terrorist Hezbollah, Hamas, United ARAB Nations (formerly UN)

    Buchwalter
    Buchwalter
    7 years ago

    Putin former NKVD chief now re-emerged as a freedom loving politician , absurd

    7 years ago

    I agree, 100%. I don’t understand how anyone can fall for an unrepentant, former KGB hack who specialized in disinformation while he was stationed in East Germany. And this supposed friend of the Jews has consistently voted against Israel at the UN. How gullible and naive are all you Trump supporters when it comes to this hidden Russian sonei Yisroel. Once KGB, always KGB.

    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    7 years ago

    Opposing the Russians is what Ronald Reagan did. That wing of the GOP is dead.