Ukraine and the Whistleblowers

Volume 19 Issue 2

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■ Post Reprint: “Five Myths About Ukraine” ■ Post Reprint: “We aid Ukraine to help it fight Russia. By holding back support, Trump helped Putin.” ■ Map It: Ukraine ■ Student Activity: Ukraine, Whistleblowers and the President

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A region colonized by Greeks and Romans, overrun by Huns and Mongols, and conquered by Ottoman Turks, Ukraine emerged in the spotlight in 2019. Not because of the thousands who have lost their lives in the Russian annexation of the Crimean peninsula, but because of a phone call of U.S. President Donald Trump to newly elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

This guide gives an introduction to Ukrainian geography, history and modern politics. Begin with the map of Ukraine and quick facts. The Post series of Five Myths in late September chose Ukraine for its focus — and a little more detail. Discussion of why the U.S. gives aid to other countries, and the Ukraine in particular, can begin after reading “We aid Ukraine to help it fight Russia. By holding What’s back support, Trump helped Putin.” Bringing together the different elements in this curriculum guide and Ukraine the impeachment inquiry, “Ukraine, Whistleblowers and the President” provides ten questions to stimulate research into the Got to Do individuals, the basis in law and differing points of view. Teachers may wish to add With It? additional questions. Be sure students know what Ukraine has got to do with it.

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Myths About Ukraine By Nina Jankowicz

Ukraine has been thrust into the news, but not for its two historic elections this year or progress made by its new comedian-turned-president. No, Ukraine is on America’s mind because a whistleblower in the U.S. intelligence community alleged that President Trump pressured the new president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to investigate former vice president Joe Biden, using nearly $400 million in military aid as leverage. A White House memorandum outlining the leaders’ call shows Zelenskyy asking for more military aid, to which Trump responds, “I would like you to do us a favor though,” before turning to a possible investigation of his political enemies. As impeachment proceedings over the scandal begin, Ukraine — and misinformation about it — will continue to be a mainstay of the news.

It's called 'the Ukraine.' It is true that the Ukrainian the sovereign nation of Ukraine Many Americans — Soviet Socialist Republic was in Russian is derogatory, akin to including Trump and commonly known as “the saying “in the sticks” in English. his1 lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani Ukraine” in English, but even then, It implies that Ukraine is not an — regularly call Ukraine by an the term was a shorthand. The independent state but simply a outdated name: “the Ukraine.” fraught definite article is rooted “borderland” on Russia’s outskirts. CNN’s Chris Cuomo also referred in a traditional translation choice Ukrainians (and Ukraine’s Russian- to it that way while interrogating that has geopolitical implications. speaking supporters elsewhere) Giuliani, opening a line of In Russian, the word “Ukraina” use a different preposition when questioning by asking the former means “borderlands” and takes speaking about the country: “v.” New York mayor, “Did you ask the the preposition “na.” Using the The proper English translation of Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden?” phrase “na Ukraini” to describe this preferred construction would

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program be “in Ukraine.” But even if you sentiments. It has also targeted funds, outfits and supplies troops ignore the linguistics, the country’s independent media outlets and to separatists in Eastern Ukraine, official name is Ukraine. Leaders, imprisoned at least 110 local so calling the conflict a “civil journalists and pundits should use it. journalists and activists for their war” — as Russian-owned British work. Several leaders of the newspaper the Independent has Crimeans want to be part Crimean Tatar ethnic group, done since the fighting broke out of Russia. which considers the peninsula its — is incorrect. Global Security In 2014, just after the ancestral home, are among them. Review has similarly described the Sochi2 Winter Olympics, “little They are lucky to have their lives; situation as a “civil war,” claiming green men” — military personnel other critics of the annexation that it will “remain frozen for without insignia on their green have been kidnapped, disappeared the foreseeable future,” and the uniforms, later revealed to be or killed. A 2019 report from Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Russian troops — rolled into the U.N. High Commissioner for Affairs recently complained after a Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and Human Rights found that Russia Hungarian official used the term. began wresting control of military carries out “pervasive human rights Not only has the Russian installations and administrative violations such as restrictions on government sent its soldiers resources from local authorities. A freedoms of religion, opinion and to fight in Ukraine, as a 2015 few weeks later, Russia organized expression and association, as well investigation by journalist Simon an unconstitutional referendum as the intimidation and harassment Ostrovsky revealed, but a Russian to secure the peninsula’s new of human rights defenders, missile launcher brought down affiliation. Moscow claimed that disproportionately affecting Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 97 percent of Crimean voters chose Crimean Tatars.” Many residents 2014, killing all 298 aboard. to be incorporated into the Russian have fled the peninsula since the An international probe of the Federation rather than maintain annexation, contributing to the disaster established Moscow’s the peninsula’s autonomous status more than 1.4 million internally direct military command over within Ukraine. Later, during displaced people in Ukraine. In the separatists, suggesting that the 2016 presidential campaign, short, the Kremlin’s argument Moscow’s role in directing and then-candidate Trump told ABC’s that Crimeans “want to be part shaping the conflict is much George Stephanopoulos that “the of Russia” rests on an illegal greater than the Kremlin admits. people of Crimea, from what I’ve sham election and the systematic The Donbas war was started and heard, would rather be with Russia oppression of dissent. is perpetuated — through funding, than where they were,” a claim he heavy weaponry, supplies and has repeated since assuming office. Ukraine is fighting a civil troops — by Russia. It is not a civil But the reality of what Crimeans war. war. want is not so cut-and-dried. The war in Ukraine’s Both the United Nations and the eastern3 Donbas region that has Ukraine is hopelessly Organization for Security and been going on for more than corrupt. Cooperation in Europe condemned five years and claimed more “Why would you give the March 2014 referendum as than 13,000 lives is a confusing money4 to a country you think illegitimate. The Kremlin has one; Russia has purposely made is corrupt?” Trump recently restricted access to the peninsula it that way. In addition to its responded when questioned about since its annexation, making it stealthy and illegal annexation his administration’s decision to difficult to assess people’s true of Crimea, the Kremlin secretly delay almost $400 million in

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military aid to Ukraine. As vice corrupt Yanukovych regime in ambassador to Ukraine in 2015, president, Biden told the Ukrainian 2014 is unmistakable. Geoffrey Pyatt, lambasted Shokin parliament in 2015, “You cannot for his office’s role in getting a name me a single democracy in Joe Biden lobbied to fire British investigation into Burisma the world where the cancer of a prosecutor on behalf of dismissed. Anti-corruption activists corruption is [more] prevalent” his son. in Ukraine regularly protested than in Ukraine. 5Trump, Secretary of State Shokin’s behavior. And, along Four years later, corruption Mike Pompeo and Giuliani have with an international coalition remains Ukraine’s greatest reform all alleged, without evidence, including the European Union that challenge. But the government that as vice president, Biden pushed for further anti-corruption has also made important threatened to withhold a $1 reform in Ukraine, Biden lobbied progress. It has implemented billion loan guaranteed Ukraine Poroshenko for Shokin’s firing, an online procurement system if then-Ukrainian President while also insisting on other anti- for government tenders. It has Petro Poroshenko did not fire a corruption reforms the country established an online wealth prosecutor investigating corruption needed to pursue to continue declaration system for all public in gas company Burisma. President receiving U.S. aid. Finally, officials, including the president Trump alleges that Biden did this according to Ukrainian officials and prime minister, that is to protect Hunter Biden, the vice and anti-corruption activists, the fully transparent and accessible president’s son, who sat on the investigation into Burisma had to the public. Ukraine’s new company’s board. According to a been shelved long before Biden parliament voted to strip its White House memo recounting made his request. By lobbying for members of immunity, which had Trump’s phone call with Shokin’s dismissal, Biden invited long protected lawmakers from Zelenskyy, Trump told him, “I more scrutiny of his son, not less. prosecution for crimes including heard you had a prosecutor who He was pressuring Ukraine to corruption. And just this past was very good and he was shut crack down on corruption, not week, Zelenskyy signed a new down and that’s really unfair.” contributing to it. law clarifying that the president of Trump goes on to say that Biden — September 26, 2019 Ukraine can, in fact, be impeached. “stopped the prosecution.” Ukraine still has a long way to go In reality, Shokin, who had a Nina Jankowicz is a fellow at the Wilson — its court system, in particular, long record of incompetence, was Center in Washington. Her first book, requires serious reform — but the an impediment to anti-corruption “How to Lose the Information War,” will progress since the rejection of the work in Ukraine. The U.S. be published next year.

Five Responses

1. Explain how knowing the Russian language name for Ukraine can explain political attitudes. 2. Prepare a timeline of events in the Crimean Peninsula and Ukraine since 2014. 3. What are the two prominent points of view about military activity in eastern Ukraine? 4. a. What is corruption? b. How is the current parliament of Ukraine facing corruption? 5. What arguments do Nina Jankowicz present concerning Joe Biden’s activities in Ukraine while vice president?

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PostEverything • Perspective We aid Ukraine to help it fight Russia. By holding back support, Trump helped Putin. During my Defense Department tenure, I saw how critical Ukraine is to protecting allies and checking an adversary.

alive. I feared that while I slept, Within hours, Ukrainian service by Evelyn N. Farkas Russians might have slaughtered members at various military thousands of outgunned and installations were trapped on their outnumbered Ukrainians trapped on own soil by Russian forces. If they • Originally Published September 26, 2019 their own air and naval bases. had fought back, almost certainly Hostilities between Russia and they would have died. If they didn’t On several consecutive mornings Ukraine began in that year with resist, it was unclear how they would in early 2014, I woke up with one Russia’s lightning-quick occupation fare. My job, as deputy assistant agonizing plea: Please, Lord, let the of Crimea, a region coveted by secretary of defense, was to lead a Ukrainian service members still be Russian President Vladimir Putin. team drafting proposals for then-

Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in New York on September 25 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

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Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and In the context of Ukraine’s allies have given billions in loans President Barack Obama, outlining shooting war — and the political and millions in other forms of aid. options for the United States to help war between the United States Meanwhile, the war drags on — in Ukraine defend itself against further and Russia — Trump’s alleged a report from February, the United Russian aggression. actions suggest his contempt for his Nations tallied more than 13,000 The situation was urgent: Viktor constitutional duty and his lack of deaths. Ukrainians, rightly, continue Yanukovych, the corrupt, Russia- stewardship of American military to insist that Russia has no right to friendly president of Ukraine whose and diplomatic resources. But they’re their territory or to determine their election was aided by Paul Manafort also a reminder of his persistent political fates. — Donald Trump’s future campaign flirtation with prerogatives claimed We are supporting Ukraine to stop chairman and, as of last year, a felon by Putin, unquestionably a U.S. Putin. If Russia succeeds in Ukraine, — had overseen years of government adversary. Trump’s motivation may Moscow will use military aggression plunder. His military was under- have been domestic politics, but again. Eventually, Russia could move resourced and gave up without a Putin’s machinations made Ukraine against a NATO ally, which would fight. The Russians seized dominance vulnerable to Trump’s apparent push almost automatically require us to go of the air and sea, illegally took in the first place. to war pursuant to NATO’s Article over Crimea and started a separatist In 2016, Ukrainian officials found 5 principle and provision that “an war in the Donbas region of eastern a ledger that catalogued payments attack against one” is “an attack Ukraine that persists today. At made to Manafort by Ukraine’s against all.” the outset, Ukraine’s government government. Around the same time, This summer, Ukrainians elected sought both lethal and nonlethal aid Manafort was denying reports that Zelenskyy, a 41-year-old entertainer from Western nations. The Obama he had played a part in weakening and political newcomer, on the basis administration announced a $53 language in the Republican Party of his anti-corruption platform. million nonlethal aid package later platform regarding assistance to Zelenskyy has also signaled that he that year. Ukraine in its war against Russia. wants to make peace with Russia. If Republicans in Congress criticized Before and after that, Ukrainians anything, Trump should have been Obama for not providing weaponry. have died fighting Russia-supported increasing support to Ukraine so as They praised President Trump after military elements that the Kremlin to strengthen Zelenskyy’s negotiating he approved arms sales to Ukraine in has denied sending. This year, three hand with Putin. Instead, as we’ve 2017, including the Javelin antitank Russians and a Ukrainian were learned from Trump’s own statements, systems mentioned by Ukrainian charged in the Netherlands in the from news accounts and from the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines rough transcript of the July 25 call, in the July 25 call with Trump Flight 17 over Ukraine with a he and his administration held up that’s at the heart of the House’s Russian-made Buk missile, killing vital military assistance to Ukraine impeachment inquiry. Now, though, 298 people. Russian-backed forces and pushed for an investigation of Trump is accused of delaying nearly have not pressed all the way to the Biden, as well as the investigation $400 million in military aid at Ukrainian capital, Kiev, mostly into 2016 election. around the same time he encouraged content to let the fighting stalemate Imagine if our president hinted to a Zelenskyy to look for compromising in the east. NATO ally under attack — let’s say information about one of Trump’s This has continued for five years. Britain — that he would come to its political rivals, former vice president During that time, the United States defense only if Prime Minister Boris Joe Biden, whose son Hunter Biden has provided more than $1 billion Johnson did him a favor. Conversely, was on the board of directors of the in defense-related aid to Ukraine. imagine if another ally’s leader, such Ukrainian gas company Burisma. The European Union and Western as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin

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Netanyahu, were to tell Trump that funds, a roadblock to U.S. policy the Minsk Agreements, designed he would help us defend ourselves and a counterintelligence risk. to protect Ukrainian sovereignty, only if Trump helped him politically. Most government employees with and make clear that Ukraine isn’t It’s this kind of scenario that Trump a security clearance would have it a bargaining chip — either on the stands accused of now. If his apparent revoked over an episode like this. geopolitical chessboard or for the actions had remained secret, it Trump, though, says his call with political gain of the American could have kept aid from flowing Zelenskyy was “perfect.” president. to Ukraine; Ukraine’s government Now, praise the Lord (and the could have been able to blackmail our brave, principled whistleblower), president by threatening to publicize the secret is out. While lawmakers Evelyn N. Farkas is a senior fellow his request. Any other country with investigate Trump, a unified at the German Marshall Fund of access to this conversation, via Congress and executive branch must the United States, a former deputy espionage, might have been able demonstrate to Putin and the world assistant secretary of defense to do so as well. Trump’s actions, that in the war with Russia, the during the Obama administration then, could simultaneously amount United States is on Ukraine’s side. and a former executive director of to a betrayal of public trust, a We should join European nations the Commission on the Prevention fraudulent manipulation of allocated in pressuring Moscow to implement of Weapons of Mass Destruction

An Integrated Curriculum For The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program Ukraine

BELARUS POLAND RUSSIA

Kiev

UKRAINE KAZAKH. Separatist MOLDOVA controlled Transnistria (as of May 5)

ROMANIA Caspian Crimea Sea Abkhazia South Annexed by Ossetia Black BULGARIA Russia in 2014 Sea GEORGIA GREECE AZER. ARMENIA TURKEY 200 MILES

Map by Laris Karklis/ The Washington Post

Official Name: Ukraine Continent: Asia Form of Government: Semi-presidential republic Capital: Kyiv (Kiev) Population: 43,952,300 (July 2018 est.) Official Language: Ukrainian Independence Day: August 24, 1991 (from the Soviet Union) Money: Hryvnia (UAH)

Ukraine, Whistleblowers and The President

Events and revelations of September and October 2019 brought together diverse laws, countries, members of Congress and the president of the United States and the new president of Ukraine. Questions seeking answers abound.

Select one of the following questions. Do some research and prepare to share your answer.

1. Colonized by Greeks and Romans, overrun by Huns and Mongols, conquered by Ottoman Turks. How did Ukraine, a region with a long history of subjugation, gain independence in 1991 from the Soviet Union?

2. From an annexation in 1783 to arena of the Crimean War (1853-1856) and autonomous Russian republic after 1921, Crimea has been the subject of Russia’s desire. Why is the Crimean peninsula of the southern Ukraine of such interest to contemporary Russia?

3. Who is the recently elected president of Ukraine? What experience and promises did he bring as he took office?

4. How did Ukraine become part of the 2019 impeachment inquiry of Donald Trump? Include in your response why the U.S. gives aid to Ukraine.

5. Does Congress have sufficient evidence against Donald Trump for impeachment? What make impeachable offenses? Include different points of view and details.

6. What charges were brought against presidents John Tyler, Richard Nixon and William Jefferson Clinton in their impeachment inquiry? What was the House vote on each one?

7. How much will the impeachment inquiry cost the American taxpayer? Others? Include known expenses for advertising campaigns.

8. What role did one or more whistleblowers play in the decision to begin an impeachment inquiry?

9. Why does the Whistleblower Protection Act exist and what are its main provisions? According to the Act, should the public and the one accused of wrongdoing know the whistleblower’s identity? Explain the reasons.

10. What are President Donald Trump’s main arguments against impeachment? Relate these to the U.S. Constitution’s provisions for impeachment — inquiry and trial.

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