Putin’s desire to bring back Soviet Union, advanced age driving invasion, Ukraine caucus co-chair says

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick stated Russian President Vladimir Putin’s urge for food to reconstitute the previous Soviet Union and his superior age are two vital elements in his invasion of Ukraine.

“Two issues about Vladimir Putin: He is obtained a major urge for food for danger in the case of Ukraine,” the Pennsylvania Republican and Congressional Ukrainian Caucus co-chair instructed Fox Information. “He is recognized three capitals of Christianity on the planet: Rome, Jerusalem and Kyiv.”

“If you wish to get inside his thoughts, that is nearly like a West Financial institution state of affairs for him,” he continued. “That is sacred holy floor to him, and it is step one in reconstituting the previous Soviet Union.”

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Fitzpatrick pointed to Putin’s superior age and need to cement himself in Russian historical past books as a second driving issue within the Ukraine invasion.

“Vladimir Putin is about to show 70 years previous, and he is up for reelection in 2024,” he stated. “He has what I name ‘legacy mania.’ He is now targeted on how he’ll be written within the historical past books that future Russian youngsters learn.”

“It is our job to ensure when the historical past books are written that Vladimir Putin was, actually, the dumbest chief they’ve ever had,” Fitzpatrick added.

Fitzpatrick and a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers on the Home Overseas Affairs Committee went to the Poland border Friday to get as near the Russia-Ukraine warfare as doable. The delegation hoped to see firsthand what is required to assist the Ukrainian individuals. 

As a former FBI agent, Fitzpatrick was despatched to Ukraine in 2015 to work out of the U.S. embassy. Whereas there, he helped the nation with anti-corruption and financial metrics in its push to turn into part of NATO.

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Fitzpatrick stated Ukraine was falling quick on these metrics as a result of Putin “continuously despatched saboteurs” into the nation to erode its establishments, judicial system, police drive and vitality contracts, amongst different areas.

Fitzpatrick instructed Fox Information that the U.S. now wants to shut all Russian sanction loopholes, together with seizing all belongings and sanctioning 100% of their banks. He believes Russian exports should face sanctions worldwide, and we should goal Russian vitality and ban all of their imports into the U.S.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a gathering with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on the Kremlin, in Moscow on February 14, 2022.
((Photograph by ALEXEI NIKOLSKY/Sputnik/AFP by way of Getty Pictures))

Fitzpatrick additionally believes the U.S. should sanction “all people that is wherever close to remotely affiliated” with Putin and his regime, together with their relations. 

“Sergei Lavrov – Vladimir Putin’s proper hand – his daughter lives in the USA,” Fitzpatrick stated. “Plenty of these oligarchs funnel cash to their youngsters.”

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“It is obtained to be all-encompassing,” he continued. “There cannot be any carve-outs as a result of we’re fearful about blowback on a few of our respective economies as a result of then you definately’re simply perpetuating the issue and kicking the can down the street.”

“You are going to have a much more expensive drawback by way of economics and lives,” Fitzpatrick instructed Fox Information.

Fitzpatrick stated NATO should additionally implement a no-fly zone over Ukraine, a method NATO nations have opposed.

A no-fly zone may actively pit NATO forces towards the Russians. Secretary Jens Stoltenberg referred to as ruling out such a transfer a “painful choice” and stated NATO has a accountability to not escalate the battle by participating Russian forces immediately in Ukraine, both on the bottom or within the air.

Vladimir President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine solely eight months after TIME journal billed President Biden as able to tackle the Russian chief. 
(Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photograph by way of AP)

Ukraine is “a younger democracy like we was,” Fitzpatrick stated, “Our democracy is 245 years previous, which may be very younger – just some generations – but we’re the world’s oldest democracy.”

“No democracy on this planet has survived various generations, but so many individuals take that as a right,” he added. “It may disappear tomorrow. We now have to protect it vigilantly.”

Fitzpatrick stated Ukraine is a 30-year-old democracy that gained its freedom in 1991. He stated younger democracies need assistance from different “freedom-loving” democracies world wide.

“If the message that’s despatched to the world is that we will depart Ukraine to struggle on their very own, that sends a devastating message to the world,” Fitzpatrick instructed Fox Information. “It is unbecoming of American values, and it is unbecoming of Europe and freedom throughout the globe.”

“We now have to be there to defend them,” he stated.

Marisa Schultz and Paul Conner contributed to this report.