EDITOR:

Congressman Bergman,

I sent you a message through your congressional website with your past quotes seemingly supporting Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion. I inquired about your stance on which side initiated the conflict. You didn’t answer the question.

You did send a generic response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In your statement, you said that if America provides aid, it must have an exit strategy and measurable outcome. These principles are typically applied when deploying troops abroad, not sending military aid to an ally.

As the chair of the Congressional Budget Oversight Committee, you could have subpoenaed officials at any time since the Russian invasion and sought clarification on the purpose of U.S. military aid to Ukraine. However, you chose not to do so.

Isn’t providing weapons and munitions precisely what you said the U.S. needed to do regarding Russia? Your Congressional website quoted you three weeks ago saying, “There’s no substitute for real, not just perceived, power, but the kind of reality that our nation’s military provides, not only for the safety and security of our citizens, but for the protection and support of our allies around the world…'” You further emphasized that Russia “only understands one thing, and that is lethality and strength. They don’t respect anything else. Their values are different from ours, and we have to project that so that our NATO allies and other allies will make sure that they step up knowing that we got their back…” Hasn’t Ukraine stepped up and should we have their back?

In your letter to the district, you expressed your support for President Trump’s approach to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, since sending your letter, President Trump has taken several actions that appear inconsistent with your stance. These actions include halting aid to Ukraine, ceasing intelligence sharing, denigrating NATO allies, and making empty threats of sanctions without taking concrete steps to encourage Russia to engage in peace talks. Consequently, Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukraine in response to these actions.

In contrast to your July 17, 2018, press release on Russia, where you emphasized that Russia poses a threat to our democracy and advocated for recognizing its true nature and acknowledging the dangers it poses to the United States and its allies, President Trump’s actions seem to contradict this position.

If Russia is indeed a threat to us and our allies, aren’t Ukrainians battling this threat? Aren’t Ukrainians doing what you have said is the only thing Russia understands? Lethality and strength. Shouldn’t we have the Ukrainians’ backs by at least providing weapons, munitions, and intelligence to Ukraine?

Do you think you have effectively conveyed your concerns about Russia to the administration? If not, will you try to persuade the administration with the principles you have expressed about the need for strength and having the backs of our allies?

Richard Clark

Escanaba