Ron Paul On Ukraine: ‘Why Are We Are Making Things Worse?'

Ron Paul On Ukraine: ‘Why Are We Are Making Things Worse?'
By Ron Paul
May 04, 2014
It looks like the civil war in Ukraine is getting much worse. Western Ukraine right now is being urged on by its Western supporters, meaning its NATO supporters, the European Union, the United States, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Western Ukraine has moved to take back control of the cities in Eastern Ukraine that have been taken over by supporters of Russia.

Of course, it's said in the major media that Russia has started all of this trouble, and so all this has to be done. The truth is, the coup of several weeks ago to overthrow the elected leader Viktor Yanokovych was stirred up by the same group: NATO, the European Union, the US, and the IMF.

Since this whole mess was started, we've been very much involved, spending more than $5 billion to control Ukraine. And this intervention continues. But the current fighting looks like a serious escalation that may get out of control, even though it's in the interest on both sides, the West as well as Russia, not to escalate. There have been a lot of threats and intimidation on sanctions and economic penalties, which very well could get out of control.

Added recently has been a promise from the IMF of $17 billion to Ukraine under a specific condition: get rid of the control of these Eastern cities by Russian supporters. This is a condition that has been placed on them, so it's not a surprise that seemingly all of a sudden we are seeing more aggressive activity by the Western Ukrainians to try to conquer these cities.

Ironically, the IMF doesn't seem to have much common sense in trying to help the Ukrainian people, because in order to get this $17 billion not only must they fight and control the East, they also have to raise taxes and increase oil prices - which will not help the people. This is generally the case when there are sanctions placed on a country, or when war breaks out: the people suffer and the special interests seem to thrive.

Also, I think this is certainly a shift from pretending that the Western Ukrainians are on the defensive because they've now instituted a military draft. In all seriousness, if a country is defending itself, then the people rally and you don't have to use conscription to get fighters.

I maintain that it's a mess over there, and it's getting worse. We're contributing to the problems. It would be much better for the Ukrainians, for the Europeans, for the Russians, and for the Americans, for us to just stay out and follow the principles of a non-interventionist foreign policy. Don't send the money and don't send them weapons. Don't get involved and don't pick sides. Then I think the Ukrainian people might be able to settle this on their own, and a lot better than when there's outside interference.

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