There were sanctions. The sanctions were invoked by international partners because Russia completely violated a long standing treaty that denuclearized Ukraine. The people of Ukraine were assured to have peace within their borders and Russia took that from them. Russia had acted to annex Crimea and killed Ukrainians at its border with Ukraine. This is outrageous.
By Natasha Bertrand
Paul Manafort, campaign chairman for Donald Trump, speaks on the phone while touring the floor of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena as final preparations continue July 17, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Trump campaign's national-security policy representative (click here) for the Republican National Convention said Friday that he gave campaign colleagues the chance to "intervene" when an amendment to the GOP's draft policy on Ukraine was introduced in Cleveland last July.
The original amendment, which proposed that the GOP commit to sending "lethal weapons" to the Ukrainian army to fend off Russian aggression, was ultimately altered to say "provide appropriate assistance" before it was included in the party's official platform....
Lethal weapons were the appropriate assistance. What was Ukraine suppose to do, use spitballs? And Manafort was on the floor of the RNC Convention.
Manafort did not leave the influential sphere of the Trump transition team.
After the election: Conflicting reports (click here)
Manafort retained the apartment he has long had in Trump Tower after his former boss was elected, records show, and he was spotted there by the press during the transition. Although the Daily Beast reported in late November that Manafort was advising Trump on Cabinet picks, his name was never included on the official roster of transition team members....
No wonder Flynn was chosen. How well did Manafort know Flynn before he recommended him? He never did meet Flynn because Flynn was recommended by Russia.
The Trump campaign provided no reason for Manafort’s resignation. But in the days immediately leading up to the announcement, the New York Times reported investigators were looking into $12.7 million in undisclosed cash payments to Manafort from former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, and the Associated Press reported he helped a pro-Russian party in Ukraine funnel money to lobbying firms in Washington, D.C.
Manafort and Flynn never crossed paths before Russia recommended him for NSA. (click here) Manafort was a high roller and ran a very different company than Flynn. Trump is implicated because at the time Manafort would recommend Flynn, Trump already knew about Manafort's involvement with Russia and Yanukovych. Trump accepting Flynn put Russia's priority before that of the USA.
