Foreign Affairs committee  I agree that he is counting on a lack of resolve on the part of the west, that he feels he has us over a barrel. We need to disabuse him of that notion very, very quickly.

Foreign Affairs committee  There has been a theory that the possibilities of Ukraine and potential shale gas were part of Putin's thinking in terms of moving into Ukraine. I'm not sure that's the case. I think it had more to do with Yanukovych's fall from power than anything else, and concern that it might

Foreign Affairs committee  First of all, congratulations. It's a badge of honour to be on that list, I would say. On civil society, roughly two or maybe it was three weeks ago, there was a sizable protest in Moscow opposing the Russian moves into Crimea. And if you think about the risks that Russians fac

Foreign Affairs committee  If I'm not mistaken, Canada has the largest ethnic Ukrainian population outside of Ukraine itself, so what's happening in Ukraine is obviously of enormous interest to your people and your constituents, as it is to many people here in the United States and to Europe. It represen

Foreign Affairs committee  Back when Kurt and I were in the state department, the U.S. put a lot of emphasis on advising the orange government at that time, Yushchenko and Tymoshenko, on energy reform, and we didn't get anywhere, I'm sorry to say. I do think investment in Ukraine can be very helpful and po

Foreign Affairs committee  Very quickly, I would say Secretary of State Kerry had it right on March 2 when he appeared on a number of talk shows here and said that all options are on the table. None of us wants the military option. I'm not advocating it, and I realize there's a need not to raise false ex

Foreign Affairs committee  There are a few things. One, Russia has already nearly doubled the price it's charging Ukraine for gas, so Ukraine is now facing a crisis as a result of Russia's extortionist efforts. Two, Russia needs the price of oil to be at about $108 to $110 a barrel. If we are able to in

Foreign Affairs committee  Mr. Anderson, I would say that players in Maidan are playing both a positive and negative role. On the negative side, the Pravy Sektor, the Right Sector, forces and some from Svoboda, the Freedom Party, have been given three government positions. I do think there has been an inf

Foreign Affairs committee  If I can, I will send you a list of some suggested organizations. Freedom House does programming in Ukraine with journalists. We work with various organizations to help journalists look at issues of corruption, but also at how to do their job professionally and safely. Journali

Foreign Affairs committee  I think it's critical to send both long- and short-term observers. This is largely the responsibility of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and its Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, ODIHR. They are putting together observer missions. The

Foreign Affairs committee  Sir, I think sanctions need to be both punitive and pre-emptive: punitive for the steps that Putin and Russia have already engaged in, such as the invasion of Crimea and its annexation, but also pre-emptive to try to prevent further aggression on Russia's part, further meddling,

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. It is an honour for me as well to appear before the committee. I do want to pay tribute to the steps your government has taken in response to the crisis in Ukraine involving Russia and also your interest in holding this hearing. We appreciate it