And that thats the answer to this problem. The challenge that we have in the world today is, you know, that its the world today. Its 2014. Ts not 1990, its not 1980. So isolating russia is not really something that the United States can do unilaterally. I mentioned the point about europerussia economic relations. But there is also china out there. And even if we were to succeed in bringing our china allies along with a strategy of isolating russia, isolating russia, in my view, basically pushes russia into far closer alignment with china than its in now. You start to see again major russian arms sales to china, and, you know, do we start to see Russian Support for chinas territory torle claims . Territorial claims . Then we have a new cold war and a potentially very dangerous one. I dont think we have a new cold war. I think we have a time when we take off the rosecolored glasses. The obama administering has been more slisstuss of our adversaries than our allies. We have had a misguided view of putin and in syria and a lot of people around the world. We have to understand we do not share this community of shared values in which we are one among equals and just remind people they want to be on the right side of history, they dont want to be 19th century, they want to be 21st century, and somehow they are going to come along to our way of thinking. We have different adversaries that have different interests. If we realize that, we can expand the freedom of the world. Gentlemen, one last question. We have like 30 seconds. Which way is ukraine going to go . Cliff . I think ukraine is going to be split one way or another. Look, if crimea stays in russian hands, it is split. Beyond that how much putin decides to take and how much he succeeds in taking, it is largely in his hands and not ours, but well see. Paul . Crimea, i think, is probably lost. But i think the loss of crimea drives the rest of ukraine much more firmly toward the west over time. We need our european allies really to step up to the plate to help to make that happen. And also, we need to be there too. Gentlemen, thank you so much. Please, give them a hand. Washington journal continues. Host we are joined more on the situation in ukraine from washington journal. His is 45 minutes. Essentially what they are going to be asked is do they want to be part of ukraine, or do want to join the russian coalition. They are largely russian speaking, and there is a large part of the population that has traditional ties to russia. More than 40 of the population is ukrainian, and more than 12 f the population why was this seen as a big deal for the United States and russia . It is a big deal for the United States, because the United States has upheld eritorial integrity. To have a vote where they assert adverse to ukraine. In russia, russia has also been great believer in National Sovereignty. It itself is a multieye ethnic population and would not want that floating around the Russian Federation. In this case you have historic ties and whats happened in ukraine in the last few weeks has decided that it wants to support crimean sovereignty in this instance. You heard the president say that this vote is illegal. If they were to break away, thats a violation of International Law. Whats the law . Well, there is the treaty. The u. N. Charter is recognized as the sovereignty, article 2, it is also a violation of the hell sinky act of 1975 and it is a violation of the moslem of understanding signed in 1974 where by in order to have ukraine remove its Nuclear Weapons, russia, the United States, and several other countries recognized the sovereignty of ukraine and included sovereignty of crimea. Crimea has certain independence within ukraine but nevertheless of s a constituent part ukraine and no one has recognized the right for it to secede. Peter baker writes they want to break away from a country they consider hostile. The Central Government cries foul. With the help of a powerful foreign mill trirks they have succeeded in severing ties. The secession drove a deep wedge between the United States and russia that soured discussions for years. Moscow saw it as an infringement on sovereignty. 15 years later, the former cold war rivals again find themselves at odds, but this time they have effectively switched sides. Well, the circumstances are different than what happened in kosovo in early 2000. What happened in kosovo was a mass violation of human rights by serbia. Event that end seceded the United States recognizing kosovo. The United States asserted when it recognized kosovo that this was not a precedent. Many countries chose not to recognize kosovo as an independent country, notably spain, because it too has ethnic populations it does not want to bleak break away. So the question of National Sovereignty is one of those gray areas of International Law. It depends on the circumstances usually. Both sides can assert either side, it turns out, and fight under International Law. What is glearg in this case is glaring in this case is whats happened in crinmea is not an Immediate Reaction to Human Rights Violations or a structured vote but a hurried operation. Host lets show viewers what president obama had to say thursday when he talked about the steps necessary to resolve it. The proposed referendum on the future of crimea would violate the ukrainian constitution and violate International Law. Any discussion about the future of ukraine must include the legitimate government of ukraine. In 2014 we are well beyond the days when borders can be redrawn over the heads of democratic leaders. While we take these steps i want to be clear there is also a way to resolve this crisis that respects the interests of the Russian Federation as well as the ukrainian people. Let international monitors into all of ukraine, including crimea, to ensure the rights of all ukrainians are being respected, including ethnic russians. Begin consultations between the government of russia and ukraine with the participation of the International Community. Russia would maintain its space with crimea provided it provides by agreements and respects ukraines sovereignty. The world should support the people of ukraine as they move to elections in may. Thats the path of deescalation. Senator kerry is engaged with all relevant parties, including russia and ukraine, to pursue that path. If this violation of International Law continues the United States and our allies and the International Community will remain firm. Meanwhile, we think it is best to reaffirm the sovereignty of our allies in Eastern Europe and support the people of ukraine. Host your reaction to what the president had to say there. Guest that is a reasonable path. Unfortunately mr. Putin wont share that path. Mr. Putin has a different take on what occurred in ukraine. He believes this is an illegitimate government in ukraine. They have stories about fascists in government and so forth. He has presented a different picture than the reasonable picture that president obama has put forward. You can imagine what their phone calls are like when they sit down and talk about these issues because clearly they approach this from two dramatically different perspectives. President obama has put together a reasonable middle ground at this time it is not acceptable to president putin. Host in a response to u. S. Sanctions over Ukraine Russia may freeze weapons inspections out of moscow. Russia broadened its war of words saturday when the ministry of defense said it may consider stopping inspections of its Nuclear Weapons in response to threatened sanctions from the west. What are they talking about here . Guest they are talking about the inspections that currently occur at regular intervals of Nuclear Weapons. I think russia is simply trying to scare the west and the United States from introducing any sort of sanctions. They keep increasing the rhetoric in terms of what those sanctions would mean in terms of e. U. Russian relations, and they are basically trying to get in front of this issue and basically compel the United States and the e. I. Not to uppingsnks sanctions and the rhetoric. Host good morning. Our caller. Caller putin is a dictator. Hes going to take all of ukraine. He attacked the republic of georgia in 2008, and hes thrown the gauntlet to germany. Germany now has control over yugoslavia and it no longer exists. You are getting realedy for a new version of world war ii world war i, and we are looking at world war iii. Putin is a dictator. Hes doing what dictators always do, hes reclaiming his empire. Clame chamberlain is doing nothing. We have to get ready because ere getting ready for thermonuclear world war 36r iii. You raised the issue of world war i. We are marking the 100th anniversary of the beginning of world war i. The history shows how unintended events and small events can escalate into major global war. This event does not need to do that. Obviously the process will continue to get more dangerous as crimea pursues this referendum. At the present time i dont think we should still be trying to find a diplomatic answer even if the Diplomatic Options are dwindling. Host doug in massachusetts. Democratic caller. Hi, doug. Caller your guests cannot be unaware that last week there were reports in the British Press of a leaked telephone conversation between the e. U. Foreign minister and the estonian ambassador that the 88 people that were slaughtered in stung dent square were which by westernbacked asian provocateurs. We are not hearing anything about this in the western press. If you can give me an answer about that, i would appreciate that. Guest a lot of the people quoted in this story have ultimately denied what was quoted in the press. So there is a rumor floating around about the role of snipers and potentially western support of snipers. There has been no other hard evidence provided. It is merely speculation. And until such time as the story is confirmed it remains very much in the area of speculation. Host howard, republican caller. Good morning. Can i take just a moment to Say Something about your ability to work with the cspan audience. You are incredible. I have been following you from your first days. You have blossomed. , you are a talent. I read a little bit in the wall street journal. I put it out there that its been some very great callers this morning, very knowledgible people, in the most part. The idea is to go after the ol ygarchy of russia. Censor them and stop their ability to do business in the west. And the oligarchy will say were not dealing with this. Reins e to pull your back, mr. Putin. Host conned leezia rice writes the immediate concern must be to show russia that similar moves will not be tolerated and at ukraines territorial boundaries are sacrosanct, and saying that that matters to the russian oligarchs. No doubt about it the russian oligarchs have been able to get a lot of their wealth outside of russia. It exists in western banks. A lot of that money happens to be located in london and western europe. So if you want to punish the strongest supporters of putin, the best way, many people argue with me, is to go after the wealth of the oligarchs and somehow limit their access to it. It is a bold step, but it is the one that clearly results in the greatest cries from russia. Again, when you listen to what putin and the russian ministries have been saying, they have been crying foul at any attempt of the u. S. To introduce sanctions, and these are sanctions against oligarchs and russians wealthy people abroad. It is a way by which to influence. Host pat, you are next. In new jersey seaport, new jersey, republican caller. Go ahead. Caller i would like to know what exactly we offered ukraine in the pude pest budapest moslem . In the budapest oslem randyum . Host the budapest memorandum does not require that we come to their aid. He memorandum recognizes ukrainian sovereignty working in conjunction with other commitments under International Law. It does not impose a military response by the United States, if indeed ukrainian sovereignty is not upheld in crimea. Host joining us now, from the Financial Times in ukraine to give us the latest on the ground. What is the situation like there now in ukraine . Well, it is very tense. Military going through the bases. You see a lot of demonstrations at the moment. A lot of proukrainian, and demonstrations coming out in the streets waving ukrainian flags and calling for peace, and hoach the annexation n hoping to stop the annexation of russia. Also the main government building is taken here in crimea. So you have a lot of opposing forces here. A lot of tension. Obviously the russian soldiers themselves have the grip on the peninsula. They have been barricading military bases and other facilities, and you know, thats sort of more and more examples of that that. There was a mention yesterday when they tried to send in military observers, and warning shots were fired by armed men at the border. They were forced to turn back. Essentially they would be considered selfdefense or whether they were russian troops. Suddenly you are getting the impression that the russians are tightening their grip helped by the sort of Paramilitary Forces which are recruited from the black sea fleet and from the local russian population. Host is there violence right now . Guest there have been troubling attacks on journalists which is obviously causing a lot of ripples. A crew was attacked by the selfdefense forces and their equipment was stolen. There have been a few nasty incidents at checkpoints which have been appearing all over the place. The atmosphere is becoming a little fraught. But obviously if you drive around, i was out and about today, and the roads are pretty quiet, really. Was going to a city near one of the main crimean sort of opulation centers. They make up about 12 of the population sms they are very, ry strongly opposed to the russian invasion. And there were a lot of demonstrations around. Local women coming out into the streets waving banners and sort of in favor of peace, in favor f peace in crimea and ukraine. Host where are you in crimea . It is sort of bang in the middle of the peninsula. T it is sort of the main population here. Is simferopol, which is the russian lead space, to the west of here. The the east you have closest town to russia, and thats where the russians are trying to build a big bridge so hey can control the peninsula. Host are you seeing there is more of a Russian Military presence there than before . Not in simferopol itself. I think the Russian Military is felt more around the military bases. In simferopol there is a military base. For here, it is more , sort of e forces colorfully dressed Russian Forces from an area in russia close to crimea. Here to sort of protect the ethnic russian population here. Host what are you waiting for in the coming days . Guest well the referendum will be next sunday. There is obviously a lot of preparation for that. Although everyone feels that the whole thing is being done in a bit of a hurry. Normally for an event of this kind, you would need a lot more preparation, but it is all being done on the fly. Now it is happening on the 16th. Which doesnt give people much time to prepare. And there will be a lot of tension in the buildup to that. A lot of people feel, even on the street, they feel it is unfair. They feel the people that made the decision to hold the referendum are not even the real leaders of crimea. They were sort of appointed with serious violations of parliamentary procedure. So it is the sense this has all been done in a hurry by people of Questionable Authority who have just sort of cobbled the thing together, and they want to rush through a flawed referendum which will then lead to the nexation of crime ra by crimea by russia. The votes could be split, but i think the possibility is strong that it will be a rigged election. Because russia would like to install crimea as quickly as they can. Host is there any indication that the referendum vote will go away . Guest at the moment, it looks like it is going to happen. There is snog nothing stopping them from doing it. At the moment there seems to be much contact between the ukrainians and the crimean authorities. It feels a bit like a jugger naught hurdling along and picking up speed. I would be surprised if anything can be done in the next few days to stop the vote happening, in which case, you know, it does look like russia could be annexing this region very quickly. Host guy chazan from Financial Times thank you very much for your time. What was important for you to hear . Guest it is not a region under unrest, it is not a region where people are fleeing or suffering Human Rights Violations and so forth. So what guy was saying, it does show the rushed nature of this referendum. What is also interesting, he said there doesnt seem to be anything that can stop it. So the consequences of this referendum will be felt after wards, but they will be specific changes. What happens to crimea . Crimea gets most of its energy, water from ukraine. How much will russia have to spend in order to subsidize crimea and keep it going . There are reports of upwards of 3 billion a year. This will come at a time when russias economy itself is not depog so well, it is on the cusp of recession. There is, russia can go ahead and do this because as guy said, there does not seem to be anything that can stop this referendum or any stopping them joining the Russian Federation, but there will be significant consequences not just in u. S. Russian relations but also for the people of crimea. Host what does it mean for europe and their dependence on what is coming out of that region . Guest it is the dependence on russian energy. This is a major stumbling block as to how the two, the e. U. And the United States feas the issue of sanction face the issue of sanctions. The u. S. Has a relatively small amount of trade with russia. But the e. U. Has major trade relations with russia, and they get much of their energy from russia. This complicates any unified approach with sanctions. In that case, russia is also dependent on the e. U. Without the hard currency earnings, russias economy would collapse. It is a twoway street for russia. I think what we might see coming incident is hole the e. U. Will move that much faster to lessen their dependence on russian energy, and thats not something russia really wants. Host coal exports were 20 , 15 passing through ukraine. Take a look at this, much of which goes to three of europes large e economies. , and the , italy 404 u. K. 12 . Norma . Caller i will try to be brief. Russia, morning, ukraine being brought out, you mentioned britain and there was something about 40 of the money in the in other words, he cant say where hes come from. They also mention mr. Kerry who as going to investigate. Did mr. Kerry investigate and find out it is in the virgin islands, i hope he not only gets the money back to the russian people but shows to the world who the people are who have actually accepted the money and used it. Host all right, norma. Guest capital flight is a huge problem for russia. Last year upwards of 60 million left the country. Upwards of more than 20 billion left in january of this year. It is kind of the deal putin has accepted. They can, the oligarchs, take their money out of the country. This is a problem he has with his oligarchs. So this is a question whether the Housing Market can survive, whether they crack down on but capital flight is one of his huge problems. In reality, if russia wants to diversify its economy and crow, it needs the money that is leaping out of the country at a rapid rate. Finding a way to help russians keep their money in russia is an important part of putins agenda. Please tell us why the American People should care. We should care because this is a very important International Law. Really, our security is dependent on recognition of territorial sovereignty, and the idea that you deal with nations, and you dont recognize people as independent repics because it would undermine the international ability and the postworld war ii settlements. It is of vital importance. It is important to defend a country that we have supported in the past that wants to be a part of europe and therefore there is a strong motivation for the United States to continue to support ukraine as it seeks to integrate more toward the west. L host here is joany on twitter. The power of fossil fuel, thats whats making the world go around these days. Guest i dont dispute that. The question is, finding alternative sources of energy. In this part of the world, russia is obviously the dominant player. It faces various challenges in terms of remaining a dominant player. If it wants to remain a dominant player, it will have to rely on western technology and help them find new energy sources. Energy does make the world go around. It is the great sense, the great strength that russia has, this con stand assistant earning from energy, but russia has to compete in the global marketplace as well. Wrote, 0 a rice north americas bounty of oil and combass will capacity. Ows authorizing the keystone xl pipeline and choing natural gas exports would signal that we intend to do precisely that. Host go ahead, caller from washington. Caller excuse my voice. Number one, the Police Officers t the beginning of these riots did there were molotov cocktails thrown at them. Snipers were shooting at them. 28 Police Officers were shot. This was not a nonviolent takeover of the ukrainian overnment. The people in southern ukraine are not carrying flags of ukraine because they want russia out of in. They want a united ukraine and takeover of a their government by the oligarchs that are sitting in the seat of power in that government. Host ok, guy. Guest i think hes questioning the legitimacy of the Current Interim government in ukraine. No doubt there were Peaceful Demonstrations that did ultimately lead to violence. The question really is how that violence evolved, and it is quite clear at some point someone decided to arm the Security Services in ukraine with live ammunition. Is obviously a question of legitimacy. But the question of legitimacy questions a government that decides to shoot at relatively peaceful protesters. But for the most part, demonstrations into the ukraine were peaceful. Ultimately with yana yanakovich has allowed events to unfold. It is an interim government in ukraine. It is going to have to move quickly to accomplish greater legitimate nassy. That is why it is important to have the elections as soon as possible. Host many ukraineans do not want to be part of europe, nor do they want to be like greece, slave to International Bankers. Guest unfortunately ukraine will have to deal with International Bankers whether it wants to or not. Ukraine is broke. It may want to be independent, but it is going to need immediate financial assistance. And what is the great irony of what has happened over the last three months is that initially the United States and e. U. Were reluctant to invest major sources of funding into ukraine. In light of events now, it has shown up with significant money from the e. U. And the i. M. F. And so forth and will now engage in genuine financial support. It will involve bankers but it is the only path ukraine has for independence and stability. Host go ahead with your question or comment. Caller i was watching your program. For it to be more credible, i was hoping that one could see the opposite point of view as well. Your eloquent guest he makes a lot of comments sort of antirussian and prou. S. And proukrainian. With your permission ill play the devils advocate. And i would like to make a general statement about u. S. And russian relations and what has happened since the fall of the berlin wall and the disintegration of the soviet empire. When that happened, there was a vacuum and a great opportunity for the United States to be the true master of the world and a great shaper. But in the last whatever period it is, last 20odd years, they have really failed in international policy. They are losing more and more credibility. They are creating more and more enemies all over the world. And what has happened now, the other great powers, like the ussians or chinese, they say why . Well, now theres a knew vacuum. The u. S. Creates a lot of enemies for themselves. This sets up an opportunity for us to reestablish ourselves. I think were going to do this right now. What is happening is a manifestation of this disclaimer. I think we will see over the take years, cold war two. Guest i hope it does not degenerate to a cold war take two. That would lead to a difficult time between the United States and russia and europe. And really one of the problems is that putin has drawn a rather imperial view to ukraine, but we have moved really into a post colonial war, a 19th century view when we were in fact in the 21st century. What is puzzling here, and ill tell you this in terms of a positive remark toward russia, because russia, in fact, has been always a great believer in notions of International Law. Its also tried to give great benefit to the state. So the actions of russia, there are obviously places in russia we can go a great deal into that are relevant. But in the post cold war, russia has been open to International Law. One of the things i study is russian law. Russian law is far more open to International Law than the United States is. In fact, a lot of International Laws under the russian constitution really flows into russian law, which is very different from the United States. O in terms of russia, russia i think has been responding to events. I dont think it anticipated what was about to happen in ukraine, and it has responded, unfortunately, in that very heavyhanded manner. There hopefully will be other ways in which to reopen dialogue, but in this particular case, both avenue news are closing. Host mr. Putin was asked at his News Conference about the tension between his country and the United States. There is what he had to say. Are you concerned about the war . No. This does not concern me, because we are not going to go to war with the ukrainian people. Listen to me closely. I want you to understand what i say. We will make this decision in order to protect the people of ukraine. If they shoot at their own people. How can they shoot at their own children . Our soldiers will be standing in front of them. How can they make such an order. Guest he said he would act to protect the people of ukraine, but clearly the people of ukraine are not asking for that. There have been small demonstrations from traditionally russian speaking sections of ukraine, but clearly ukraine is not asking for russias protection. Host what do you make of putins actions all along in this situation . Guest there have been natural sizz of his playing chess when were playing checkers. But there was a good article in the New York Times the other depay, but i think putin has been very reactive. If he did Pay Attention to what was going on in ukraine. He was obviously de distrabblingted he was obviously distracted by sochii. He arrived late in negotiations in ukraine, and when they fell apart, he has reacted as we have seen. I think he has been reactive. Think he is to a certain extent he is overplaying his hand. Because as weve seen and as weve discussed, the people of ukraine are not asking for this, and it will simply make him an outsider in the International Community. St i want to go back to condaleeza rice. Meet viktor yanukovych. He suddenly appeared from a back room. Tin wanted me to get the point. Hes my man, ukraine is ours, and dont forget it. She goes on to write, for him this is a zero sum game for the loyalties of the empire. The invasion and possible invasion of crimea is his answer to us. Guest it is very interesting how putin showed mr. Yanukovych he ing his man, because hasnt been with mr. Yanukoviych since these events. And he made a speech following in event, and there were no russian officials sitting next to him. Tin has basically said yanukovych is finished. As this notion of an affront and so forth, i dont think thats going to play very well to them. Host why not . Guest the affront to russia suggests that russia has some rt of impeerl right to interfere in the Sovereign Affairs of a country. That isnt how the post world war ii, post colonial world works. He is expressing that he somehow has a right to represent russian speakers. Just because they are russian speakers doesnt mean they are ukrainian. Just because he seems to think he represents russian speakers doesnt give him necessarily the right to interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation. Host you say putin was a little distracted, didnt see it coming. Did the United States see it coming . Guest i dont think the United States saw it coming either. The events began in the runup to the signing. Thats what the United States was pushing. It was in the belief that the advantage of that would be that ukraine would get a Free Trade Agreement with the e. U. , and that was seen as really a great accomplishment toward economic and political reform in ukraine. E ukraine. I think that is what we were pushing. That was what we were pushing. Yanukovych was wavering but didnt say no. They told ukraine on several occasions not to deal with nato, and that was not a strong issue in ukraine. There are not a majority of people that want to join nato, but the e. U. Represented something different, and putin allowed those negotiations to proceed. When they got to a crisis point, intervened then. Host lets get one last phone call in here. Go ahead. Caller i just wanted to make a quick point, and maybe also bring light the fact that weve seen both the media and political analysts always bring to the followed putin, obama, and our leaders. But we have to in some way try to engage how different people think. You mention putin feels he has an imperial right to take over crimea. But we need to address how. This is the thinking between two nations. One russia, and the rest of the world. There is always them and us. We have to remember we live in one world. Differences of opinion already exist. If we cannot allow the opinions of other countries, thats why we go to war. It is important that we have to address this in a clear, impartial dialogue manner in order to avoid situations such as in crimea and try to be fair and equal. For example, with the u. N. Sanctions for invading iraq and afghanistan, thats a way of thinking that the russians may see, and thats why there is always this ideology of the americans invading here and there. So it is very important to try to get this across the Media Outlets and also with yourself n order to bring this peace in peoples minds and transcend that to the politicians that come to the stable and extend dialogue. Table, if there is any validity in that i would like to hear your comments. I agree with you and as president obama put forth there are ways we can discuss this. Russia is the issue. There is a shortterm crisis that is dominating the news and will dominate the discussions. One hopes there could be a dialogue. What looks like is going to happen is russia will have to present the annexation of crimea after the fact as the starting point of negotiations. The u. S. Is still try to keep that and play. Host on the next washington journal nancy cook will talk about the antipoverty programs. At 8 30, alex wayne will discuss the Affordable Care act delays. And at 9 15, James Wendorf discusses students with special needs. Thats washington journal live at 7 00 a. M. Eastern on cspan. Next a Senate Hearing on syria. Then the Supreme Court oral argument on hall vs. Florida, a Death Penalty case. Tomorrow senator bob casey will talk about elections in afghanistan and the u. S. Role there beyond 2014. Well have live coverage from the center for American Progress starting at 2 30 p. M. Eastern on cspan. If more than one entity identifies the key fires of the internet, then by nature the internet will no longer be one net. At the heart, for example of the Domain Name System is the Root Services system. Very few people appreciate that in order to resolve names on the internet there is a root system that makes that work for the entire planet. In the root all names are resolved to ensure that when you or any otheran. Org website name, you go to the exact site that cspan wants you to go to every time, all the time for the last twoplus decades. The head of corporate internet domain names monday on the communicators on cspan 2. William burns was on capitol hill monday to discuss the u. S. Russian relations. He testified for about two hours, 20 minutes. This hearing will come to order. Let me thank deputy secretary of. Ate burns for coming this was planned obviously well before the current state of events, understanding the schedule. Of your we appreciate your still being with us here today, as well as our panelists for being willing to provide your perspective of the increasingly violent situation in syria and the russian intervention in ukraine. As a caution ri note, we have a vote taking place at 11 20, so we may pause to take that vote. To the increasing threat of violence across syrias borders, into lebanon and iraq. Of great concern is the proliferation of alqaeda splinter groups and the increasingly sec tarne rhetoric that offers sectarian rhetoric. It opens the door for an iranian to ored terrorist network justify their presence as a protector of the siahs while antagonizing russians sovereign states. The spillover is dangerous, and in lebanon there has been an uptick in bombings, many say abdullahasam by cadse. By cadse. The region is becoming increasingly unstable and increasingly violent. Having said that, that is a major challenge which the ommittee wanted to rivet our attention. We ukraine is the 800pound gorilla. We cant ignore it. Nor can we ignore russia is a major pone comment in both countries. Russias invasion of parts of ukraine make clear that putins game is not 21st century statesmanship but 19th century gamesmanship. The brave people stood in the square because they understood their fight was not just for their governments corrupt leaders but for the very future of their nation. Putin has cast aside International Law and his nations own commitments to respect the territory of the ukraine. We need a policy that checks and counties russias intent and selfcentered nationalistic and mpeerlistic policy that imperialistic society that it adheres to no law. Muldova trying to join the european union. So i want to note that i welcome the administrations expeditious response to the situation in ukraine, the pledge of assistance in the form of loan guaranteees which this committee intends to endorse and todays executive order restricting visas, freezing assets, blocking property under u. S. Jurisdiction and preventing American Companies from doing business with any individual or entity identified by the administration that threatens the peace, security, stability, sovereignty or territorial integrity of ukraine or purports to assert Governmental Authority over any part of ukraine without authorization from the Ukrainian Government in kiev. This flexible tool will allow the u. S. To target those rectly responsible for the rimean crisis and put putin on notice. The committee is prepared to codify this action and provide the president with further authority to respond to this situation as it develops. Putins game of russian roulette has pointed the gun at the International Communitys head. I believe this time he has miscalculated, and i certainly believe it is essential that we do not blink. The unit of purpose displayed at the unit of Purpose Council to support ukrainian autonomy and response to russian authoritarianism i believe serves as a call to action. With that, i would be happy to recognize the ranking republican senator corbett for his remarks. I recognize mr. Corker. Thank you. I want to thank all of you for your Public Service to be here. I know you dont decide what the polling is, but you carry is decide what the policy is, but you carry it out. I can just say, i could not be more disappointed in where we re in syria. T is kind of amazing how prognosticators over the world said what would happen over time if we didnt change the balance on the ground, and unfortunately thats exactly what has happened. It has turned into regional conflict, destablizing other countries, and alqaeda is on the rise not only in syria where our directors of the National Intelligence is others are now stating this is becoming a threat to the homeland but it is also a threat to the entire region. You can witness that on the ground. It is incredible that violence that is occurring there as the chairman just mentions in lebanon. We tried to help the administration by passing something here in this committee. We did so on a 153 vote to arm and really support the opposition, and unfortunately the Administration Never came around to doing the things that it stated publicly that it would do, and it just never has done it. So this has festered and there has never been a change thats caused assad to really even want to sit down and negotiate. Obviously what happened at geneva ii is what everyone expected. We gave the president out of this committee on a 107 vote the authorization for the use of force. Yet the president really not only didnt make a case for it publicly, but obviously, you know, sort of jumped in russias lap to help us out of this situation and deal with chemical weapons. It is disasterous in great proportion. Yet a failure on our part and many other nations relative to Foreign Policy, and it is destablizing the region. I cannot be more disappointed, and the two are related, as the chairman just mentioned. I dont know that we can say that russia would not have done what it did in ukraine with a different approach. I dont think we can state that. But i think that the per misive environment that we have created through this reset thinking that someone like putin reacts to warmth and charm and reachout when what he really reacts to is weakness, and i think he has seen that in our Foreign Policy efforts over the course of this last year. Again, i dont think we can make a case that what happened in crimea wouldnt have happened, but i certainly dont think he has felt there would be much of a pushback from us. So im thankful today that, steps there are some being taken, as the chairman mentioned. Weve been willing to back even more forcefully. I could not be more disappointed that we are where we are. I think our credibility very much has been on the line, is on the line, and i do think that us ving unified and very strong reaction and approach over a lofpk time, not something thats i hope you will explain more fully what you think the. Anctions are about i think that will help us over the next few days in doing something that is complementary to those efforts. I thank you for being here. So, we will start off with deputy secretary burns, who also served as ambassador to russia from 2005 2 2008 and has some obvious firsthand experience. Also pleased to have what is the assistant secretary of defense for International Security affairs