To the Editor:
I am disgusted by the rhetoric on the right, blaming President Joe Biden for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and insinuating that Vladimir Putin would not have attempted this during the previous administration.

When President Biden first warned of Russia’s plans to invade Ukraine, many on the right scoffed and accused him of trying to distract the public from other issues. Since then, and particularly over the last week, President Biden’s foreign policy experience has come to play as he has been masterful at uniting our allies and taking all actions short of direct military action.

President Biden has imposed stringent sanctions on Russia, with new sanctions announced as I write this on Monday, Feb. 28; Russia closed its markets today to prevent a collapse. The United State under President Biden is pledging tremendous financial and military aid to Ukraine against its Russian aggressors.

Do not underestimate Vice President Kamala Harris’s role; recall that Vice President Harris attended a summit in Germany two weeks ago and met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, and other dignitaries, a meeting which was a tremendous step in forging the united front which the U.S. and our NATO allies are showing against Russian aggression.

President Biden has calmly led the united front to condemn Russia’s actions and impose such strict sanctions. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Feb. 27 that President Biden has managed to unite NATO in ways that Secretary Rice didn’t think were possible since the end of the Cold War.

In contrast, Donald Trump dedicated a good portion of his term to denouncing our European allies, including, but not necessarily limited to, Germany, France, Great Britain, and Denmark, as well as Australia, Canada, Japan, and Mexico. He insulted the European countries’ leaders like an ignorant bully and made ridiculous threats, particularly with regard to tariffs and trade wars.

Trump also did what he could to undermine NATO, calling it “obsolete” and threatening to pull the U.S. out of the alliance, which would only have benefited Russia. Trump expressed his disdain for Article V of the treaty, although the only time that Article V, the collective defense provision, was invoked was in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Moreover, Trump heaped praise on Putin throughout his term, and, even as recently as last week, he called Putin “smart” and “savvy.” It’s difficult to believe, but, as recently as Feb. 22, 2022, Trump said that Putin was entering Ukraine to be a peacekeeper.

While he was in office, Trump refused to condemn reports that Russia put bounties on American troops and claimed that the intelligence had never been brought to his attention. Trump asked allies to allow Russia back into the G-7, a request which was refused. You may recall that, early in his presidency, Trump gave classified information to Russians who were in the Oval Office.

I’m sure that you will also recall that Trump attempted to condition military aid to Ukraine on President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly announcing investigations into President Biden’s family. In other words, Trump attempted to gain personal benefit and only released the monetary aid after a whistleblower complaint was filed.

Additionally, it was the Trump campaign that, in 2016, fought to remove a provision from the Republican platform that would have given weapons to Ukraine to fight Russia.

Donald Trump is not responsible for Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine, but he certainly took no actions that would have prevented it and could be said to have laid a groundwork for the invasion.

Before blindly nodding and agreeing with GOP talking points, please take a moment for a critical analysis. Please also ask what the GOP would have to gain with such inane statements that they hope potential voters will unthinkingly accept in this election year.

No intelligent person could blame President Biden for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; rather, President Biden has taken masterful steps to punish Russia.

Jill Loew

Guilderland