Sen. Chris Coons: Ukraine in Crisis Because of American Weakness on Syria

Dem Senator: Ukraine in Crisis Because of American Weakness on Syria (Washington Free Beacon)

Sen. Christopher Coons (D., Del.) said the escalating crisis between Ukraine and Russia is partly a result of “our perceived weakness” in Syria Monday at the AIPAC Policy Conference.

“The United States needs to be thoughtful,” Coons said. “Less rhetoric, more action. More multilateral. Work with our western allies to ensure that Russia steps back and that Ukrainians are allowed to solve what is a Ukrainian political crisis. I frankly think this is partly a result of our perceived weakness because of our actions in Syria.”

The Obama administration came under intense criticism last fall when it was out dueled on the world stage by Russian president Vladimir Putin over the issue of Bashar al-Assad’s chemical weapons usage. Though Obama had drawn a “red line” and sternly warned of consequences if crossed, it was Putin who received credit for brokering a deal to remove them from Syria after a chemical weapons attack in August on Assad’s own people.