March 15, 2022

On March 11, 2022, AMCD members met with Kyle Lyebyodyev who is an ethnic Russian born and raised in Ukraine. His father was in the Russian military and stationed in Ukraine before the fall of the Soviet Union. Mr. Lyebyodyev said he never experienced any discrimination or repression as a native Russian speaker while living in Ukraine. He believes the purported oppression of Russians is a total fabrication. Ukrainians just wanted to determine their own destiny free from Russian domination.

Our members expressed skepticism about the Biden administration’s actions and wonder whether there has been some secret deal to let Putin take Ukraine. Mr. Lyebyodyev thinks that is a distinct possibility and told us the Ukrainians feel they have been sold out, especially after witnessing the administration’s waffling over the MiG fighters Poland wanted to provide.

Mr. Lyebyodyev expressed profound gratitude toward the people of Poland who are stepping up to help their Ukrainian neighbors.

Mr. Lyebyodyev explained that after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the government of most of the republics stayed the same with Russia-friendly leaders. The “stans” and Belarus, for example are still within the Russian orbit. It was only when democracy in Ukraine developed to the point of turning the country away from Russia and toward the West, that Russia reacted.

The administration is desperate to re-enter the JCPOA and this is part of the explanation as to why the US has not been more forceful in opposing Russia in Ukraine. Russia is actually negotiating with Iran on our behalf!

All of this shows the weak fecklessness of an administration with no moral compass and no vision for America’s place in the world.