OPINION:
Kissing up to the Russians in Saudi Arabia and getting nothing in return, Secretary of State Marco Rubio came away expecting “concessions” from all sides (“Rubio on UAE visit faces resistance to Gaza plan amid major defense and weapons expo,” Web, Feb. 19). But Russia is the aggressor nation that invaded Ukraine and has laid waste to vast areas of that country.
Vladimir Putin is at his weakest position in years. Instead of rewarding him with diplomatic recognition of his despicable behavior, the U.S. should be taking initiatives based on Putin’s intentional waging of an unnecessary war. Rather than suggesting that Ukraine give up portions of its land, Rubio and President Trump should be demanding Russian withdrawal from Ukraine, reparations for the devastation Russia imposed on Ukraine, further economic sanctions against Russia and secret and unacknowledged drone strikes against any North Korean troops in Ukraine.
The U.S. should not be dismissive of European concerns. We should recognize that Russia’s efforts to reestablish the USSR are intended to expand the zone of Russian influence and subjugate mass populations, natural resources and domestic production of satellite states to accumulate wealth and military superiority on the world stage.
If the administration doesn’t do this, history will regard Messrs. Trump and Rubio the way it does Neville Chamberlain, whose feckless efforts at pacification directly resulted in World War II.
WILLIAM T. FIDURSKI
Clark, New Jersey
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