Page:Impeachment of Donald J. Trump, President of the United States — Report of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives.pdf/119

 Ukraine is a "strategic partner of the United States." By contrast, United States "national security policy" correctly identifies Russia as an adversary. As multiple witnesses affirmed, the United States therefore has an interest in supporting Ukraine, to ensure it remains an independent and democratic country that can deter Russian influence, expansion, and military aggression. For example, Ambassador Yovanovitch explained in her testimony that "[s]upporting Ukraine is the right thing to do. It's also the smart thing to do. If Russia prevails and Ukraine falls to Russia dominion, we can expect to see other attempts by Russia to expand its territory and influence." Mr. Morrison elaborated: "Russia is a failing power, but it is still a dangerous one. The United States aids Ukraine and her people so that they can fight Russia over there, and we don't have to fight Russia here."

The military and security assistance that the United States has approved with bipartisan support to Ukraine since 2014 is critical to preventing Russia's expansion and aggression. Ukraine is on the front line of conflict with Russia; its forces defend themselves against Russian aggression every day, in an ongoing war. When the United States provides assistance that allows Ukraine to equip itself with "radar and weapons and sniper rifles, that saves lives. It makes the Ukrainians more effective. It might even shorten the war. That's what our hope is, to show that the Ukrainians can defend themselves and the Russians, in the end, will say 'Okay, we're going to stop.'" In addition, as Ambassador Taylor explained, the delay occurred "at a time when hostilities were still active in the east and when Russia was watching closely to gauge the level of American support for the Ukrainian Government."

Above and beyond the security assistance itself, public support from the United States demonstrates to Russia that "we are Ukraine's reliable strategic partner." In withholding not only assistance, but also a White House meeting, the President denied Ukraine a show of strength that could deter further Russian aggression and help Ukraine negotiate an end to its five-year war with Russia (a war that has already killed over 13,000 Ukrainians). Indeed, the very fact of delayed assistance quite certainly emboldened our enemies and weakened our partner. President Trump's conduct continues to