Great news in the Wall Street Journal.
Excerpt:
Frustrated with President Barack Obama’s reaction to Russian action in Ukraine, a group of Republican senators said Wednesday they will introduce legislation outlining a more muscular response.
“What we’ve seen from the administration is a lot of rhetoric,” Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, said on the Senate floor Wednesday morning. The White House has been dealing “with the situation after something bad has already occurred,” he said.
[…]The GOP senators’ bill would map out a more assertive plan for keeping Russian President Vladimir Putin in check, Mr. Corker said, including by implementing new sanctions on Russian banks, energy companies and a major Russian arms dealer.
Some of the sanctions would go into effect immediately, while others would kick in if Russian armed forces cross further into Ukraine or if Russia further annexes any new area. The goal is “so that we actually do something that affects the Russian economy until such a time that they pull those troops from the border,” Mr. Corker said.
The bill also seeks to build support for NATO allies by requiring Mr. Obama to increase support for the armed forces of Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia and facilitate access to military equipment for Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. Up to $100 million of direct military assistance to Ukraine would also be authorized, including anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons and small arms.
The White House did not have an immediate response to the GOP bill.
It’s too much of a provocation to send American troops into Ukraine, but arming the Ukrainians will do a lot do deter Russian aggression. It will certainly do a lot more to deter the Russians from taking more ground than “mobilizing the international community” or sending food. Food doesn’t stop Russian tanks, and it doesn’t shoot down Russian aircraft.
WINTERY KNIGHT 
Glad to see that you’re still interested in Ukraine events.
When the West won the Cold War back in the late 1980s it was one of the greatest achievements of western policy in the last century or so. Unfortunately Obama seems to be risking throwing all of those achievements away.
When it comes to arming Ukraine, arming them might do something to assist. I’m not sure whether Russia wishes to invade the country. They seem to have had a combat force bigger than Ukraine’s entire army stationed about 30 miles from the border for more than a month now, yet they haven’t moved in en masse.
The Russians have however depolyed their Spetznatz special forces troops, who seem to be leading groups of pro-Russian locals and are behind much of the “separatist” activity.
My guess is that Russia will allow its local proxies take the country over bit by bit without a formal invasion, unless the Ukrainians actually start to succeed against them, in which case I think an invasion is much more likely.
I have heard stories from people who have been in the Ukrainian army which would not inspire confidence in their battle readiness. They are mainly conscripts and in many areas they are controlled by local oligarchs who use them as unpaid farm or factory labour without them getting any military training. In some places they don’t get paid and they don’t get food. Unfortunately Ukraine is a very corrupt country.
A question for you. I notice some commentary on the internet from supposedly conservative commentators who seem to admire Putin. Is this common in the US?
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