BACKGROUND: The Republicans are disgracefully politicizing the situation between Russia and Ukraine by trying to link Hillary Clinton to the problem, but the gap between Hillary Clinton’s past achievements with Russia and these present-day problems is simply too wide.
FACTS:
- Secretary Clinton worked arduously to advance American interests with Russia, even in tough circumstances.
- As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton was clear-eyed about Putin. Any other characterization is patently false. The United States’ relationship with Russia has always been complicated, but the truth is, Secretary Clinton led the efforts that resulted in critical accomplishments which made the world a safer place.
- Secretary Clinton helped convince Russia to join in to enact the toughest sanctions in Iran’s history, which led to a temporary halt of the Iranian nuclear program.
- Not to mention, Secretary Clinton oversaw passage and enactment of the New START Treaty, aiming to reduce nuclear weapons and making us all safer.
- Secretary Clinton worked successfully to secure Russia’s cooperation in anti-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan, reaching a historic “lethal transit” agreement, allowing U.S. military planes to transport lethal materials over Russia to Afghanistan.
- Clinton’s record on Russia even pre-dated her time at the State Department. She made clear that she always viewed U.S. relations with Russia as something that, as with all diplomacy, required keeping our eye on the ball to find areas of mutual interest without compromising our position or our values.
- Clinton warned of concerns in late 2012 that Russia was trying to re-Sovietize Eastern Europe.
- In 2008, she publicly pointed to Putin’s past as a KGB agent and warned that he couldn’t be trusted.
Recent Comments on Russian Reset:
- In an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria last July, Hillary Clinton discussed the reset with Russia and how and why U.S.-Russian relations have changed since.
- According to Secretary Clinton, “So when he [Putin] announced in the fall of 2011 that he would be changing positions with Medvedev, I knew that he would be more difficult to deal with. He had been always the power behind Medvedev, but he had given Medvedev a lot of independence to do exactly what you said and make the reset a success.” [CNN, 7/25/14]
- Clinton continued, stating, “I think that what may have happened is that both the United States and Europe were really hoping for the best from Putin as a returned president. And I think we’ve been quickly, unfortunately, disabused of those hopes. [CNN, 7/25/14]
- While the U.S. has been very clear in its criticism of Putin and Russia, Secretary Clinton believes the Europeans could do more. In an interview last July, she said, “The United States has continued to move forward on that, Europe has been reluctant…They need to understand they must stand up to Vladimir Putin.” [CNN, 7/25/14]
- Secretary Clinton thinks that “Putin is pushing the envelope as far as he thinks he can” and “the only language he understands is one that is very tough, very patient, very clear.” [The Charlie Rose Show, 7/17/14]
- Europe needs to toughen their own sanctions, find alternatives to Russian oil, and do more to help support the Ukrainians protect themselves and their borders. According to Clinton, Putin needs to know “that there is a price to pay for this kind of behavior.” [Associated Press, 7/21/14]