Helsinki Commission hearing warns Russian gains would worsen life for Ukrainians and threaten neighbors

At a hearing of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the U.S. Helsinki Commission), a commission member warned that a peace deal that “rewards Russian aggression” would leave Ukrainians worse off and could destabilize neighboring states. “It is Ukrainians themselves who will overwhelmingly bear the cost of a peace deal that rewards Russian aggression,” the commission member said, adding that “millions of Ukrainians already suffer under Russian occupation.”

The commission member described a range of regional risks tied to Russia’s campaign in Ukraine. He said Belarus has undergone what he called “soft annexation,” with Moscow using economic integration and the hosting of weapons and troops to extend its reach toward NATO’s border. “Belarus presents a striking example of…