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Why should U.S. taxpayers be interested in Ukraine? That was the question that Rex Tillerson, the U.S. secretary of state, was heard to ask at a meeting of the Group of Seven foreign ministers, Americas closest allies, a day before his visit to Moscow this week. We dont know what he meant by that question, or in what context it was asked. When queried, the State Department replied that it was a rhetorical device, seeking neither to defend nor retract it.

If Tillerson were a different person and this were a different historical moment, we could forget about this odd dropped comment and move on. But Tillerson has an unusual background for a secretary of state. Unlike everyone who has held the job for at least the past century, he has no experience in diplomacy, politics or the military; instead he has spent his life extracting oil and selling it for profit. At that he was successful. But no one knows whether he can change his value system to focus instead on the very different task of selling something intangible American values to maximize something even more intangible: American influence.

The switch is harder than it seems: Values and influence cannot be measured like money. They cannot be achieved through cost-cutting or efficiency; they cannot be promoted using the tactics of corporate PR. On his first trip to Asia, for example, Tillerson refused to take the usual contingent of journalists (who have always paid their own way) on the grounds that if he took fewer people he could use a smaller plane and return faster. If he were still a chief executive, that might have been a great decision. For the secretary of state it was an embarrassing mistake. Authoritarians around the world saw further evidence that the Trump administration intends to undermine journalism; Americans learned less than they should have about a visit that was covered mainly by foreigners.

Tillersons question, rhetorical or otherwise, therefore deserves a response. For the answer is yes: U.S. taxpayers should be interested in Ukraine. But not necessarily for reasons that would make sense to an oil companys CEO.

Why? Its an explanation that cannot be boiled down to bullet points or a chart, or even reflected in numbers at all. Im not even sure it can be done in a few paragraphs, but here goes. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea in 2014 were an open attack on the principle of border security in Europe. The principle of border security, in turn, is what turned Europe, once a continent wracked by bloody conflicts, into a safe and peaceful trading alliance in the second half of the 20th century. Europes collective decision to abandon aggressive nationalism, open its internal borders and drop its territorial ambitions made Europe rich, as well as peaceful.

It also made the United States rich, as well as powerful. U.S. companies do billions of dollars of business in Europe; U.S. leaders have long been able to count on European support all over the world, in matters economic, political, scientific and more. Its not a perfect alliance but it is an unusual alliance, one that is held together by shared values as well as common interests. If Ukraine, a country of about 43 million people, were permanently affiliated with Europe, it too might become part of this zone of peace, trade and commerce.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an aggressive, emboldened Russia increasingly threatens European security and prosperity, as well as Europes alliance with the United States. Russia supports anti-American, anti-NATO and indeed anti-democratic political candidates all across the continent; Russia seeks business and political allies who will help promote its companies and turn a blind eye to its corrupt practices. Over the long term, these policies threaten U.S. business interests and U.S. political interests all across the continent and around the world.

But I must concede: There is no calculation, no balance sheet that can prove any of this. There is nothing that would appeal to a CEO or his shareholders. Whatever we have invested in Ukraine loans, via the International Monetary Fund, or aid will not show an immediate profit. To see the value of a secure, pro-Western Ukraine, you have to see the value of an alliance going back 70 years. And to preserve this alliance, you have to advocate it, work on it, invest time and maybe even money in it, too.

Tillersons boss isnt going to be an advocate for Americas alliances. Will he? It would help if he could start by understanding that their stability, not their value for money, are the most important measure of success in his job.

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Yes, Rex Tillerson, US taxpayers should care about Ukraine. Here's why. - Washington Post

This report is for the media and the general public. ****The Missions next report will be issued on 18 April 2017.

The SMM observed more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, though fewer explosions, compared with the previous reporting period. It observed fewer ceasefire violations in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of a civilian casualty in Pikuzy and damage to houses from gunfire in Sentianivka. The SMM monitored the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, but its access there and elsewhere remained restricted.* The Mission observed ceasefire violations assessed as inside the disengagement area near Zolote. It observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line, in Luhansk city and Kalinina. The SMM followed up on reports that an explosion had damaged railway tracks near Orikhove. The Mission visited two border areas currently not controlled by the Government. It monitored the continuation of protests outside some branches of a bank in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Odessa. The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Balakliia (Kharkiv region) following last months fire at an ammunition depot.

In Donetsk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, [1] including, however, fewer explosions (about 475), compared with the previous reporting period (at least 600 explosions).

On the evening of 13 April, the SMM camera in government-controlled Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk) recorded 18 explosions assessed as impacts of rounds of undetermined weapons and five airbursts, followed by a total of 12 projectiles in flight (11 from south to north, one from west to east), 16 undetermined explosions, and three illumination flares in flight from west to east, all 3-5km east and east-south-east. On 14 April, positioned in Avdiivka, the SMM heard two undetermined explosions 3-6km west and north-west, and 56 undetermined explosions 3-7km at directions ranging from east to south-east.

The same day, positioned in DPR-controlled Yasynuvata (16km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 170 undetermined explosions, at least 50 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun fire and over four hours of intense small-arms fire, all 1-6km at directions ranging from south-west to north. The SMM also heard four undetermined explosions 8-10km west. The SMM camera at the DPR-controlled Oktiabr mine (9km north-west of Donetsk city centre) recorded two explosions assessed as impacts of rounds of undetermined weapons 3-5km north-east.

On the evening of 13 April, while in government-controlled Svitlodarsk (57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard one explosion assessed as an outgoing round of an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-1) cannon (73mm), nine explosions assessed as outgoing rocket-propelled grenades, one explosion assessed as the impact of an automatic-grenade-launcher round, two undetermined explosions, and heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, mostly 1-3km south-east. During the day on 14 April, in the same location, the SMM heard 37 undetermined explosions (of which 24 were 5-10km south and 13 were 10km west), as well as heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire 1-3km south-east.

The same day, positioned 1.6km south-east of government-controlled Kurakhove (40km west of Donetsk), the SMM heard 60 explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds 7-10km south-east.

On the night of 13-14 April, the SMM camera in Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol) recorded 44 airbursts followed by totals of two undetermined explosions, five rocket-assisted projectiles in flight (two from west to east, one from south-west to north-east, and two from east to west along with an explosion assessed as the subsequent impact of one of the two), 117 tracer rounds in flight (19 from east to west, 45 from east-south-east to west-north-west, four from south to north, five from south-west to north-east, 25 from west to east, and 19 from west-north-west to east-south-east), eight bursts of tracer rounds in flight from south-east to north-west, and one illumination flare in flight from east to west, all at undetermined distances north and north-north-east.

On 14 April, positioned 700m east of government-controlled Sopyne (16km east of Mariupol), the SMM heard 32 undetermined explosions 3-5km north-north-east.

In Luhansk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 120 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (at least 150 explosions). Positioned in Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard six explosions assessed as outgoing IFV (BMP-1) cannon fire 3km north-west.

Positioned 3km west of LPR-controlled Kripenskyi (58km south of Luhansk), the SMM heard five explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) and six explosions assessed as 152mm artillery rounds, all 9km north-west and assessed as part of a live-fire exercise outside the security zone.

Positioned in LPR-controlled Alchevsk (40km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM heard nine undetermined explosions and three bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 5km south, assessed as part of a live-fire exercise inside the security zone, in violation of the decision of the Trilateral Contact Group on 3 March 2016 that prohibited conduct of live-fire training (exercises) in the security zone.

The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties and damage to houses from gunfire. At a hospital in DPR-controlled Novoazovsk (40km east of Mariupol), the SMM saw a man in his fifties in a wheelchair with bandages on his right side (calf, hip and shoulder), some of which had traces of blood. He told the SMM he was outside his home in DPR-controlled Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol) at 15:00 on 13 April when he was struck by bullet fragments.

On 13 April, in LPR-controlled Sentianivka (formerly Frunze, 44km west of Luhansk), the SMM saw a fresh impact with a diameter of 30mm in the north-facing wall of a house at 91 First of May Street, and indications of recent repair to north-facing parts of the roof. The SMM assessed that the house was struck by a round of an IFV (BMP-2) cannon (30mm) fired from a northerly direction. A resident (woman, aged about 65) told the SMM that both the wall and the roof were hit on the night of 10-11 April, but that the roof had already been repaired. At 117 First of May Street, the SMM saw two fresh impacts (one hole and one section of broken glass and shrapnel damage) on the north-facing walls of an uninhabited house, assessed as caused by rounds of a 30mm-calibre weapon fired from a northerly direction. About 8m north of the north-facing side of a house at 119 First of May Street, the SMM saw a fresh impact on the ground, assessed as caused by a 30mm-calibre round fired from a northerly direction.

The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas of Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), Zolote (60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske (41km south of Donetsk), as foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016. The SMMs access remained restricted but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.*

Positioned near an LPR checkpoint south of the bridge to government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 5km north-north-west, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

Positioned in government-controlled Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk) the SMM heard two shots of small-arms fire 600-700m south-east, assessed as inside the disengagement area south of government-controlled Zolote. The SMM also heard about 85 undetermined explosions, 15 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire and six shots of small-arms fire, all 1.5-5km at directions ranging from south to south-west and assessed as outside the disengagement area. Positioned 3km north of LPR-controlled Pervomaisk (58km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard nine undetermined explosions and seven bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire 3km south-west, assessed as outside the disengagement area.

The SMM noted a calm situation while positioned outside the disengagement area near DPR-controlled Petrivske.

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons, in implementation of the Package of Measures, its Addendum, and the Memorandum.[2]

In violation of the respective withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas, the SMM again observed seven MLRS (BM-21), seven self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), ten towed howitzers (five D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm; and five 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm), and seven tanks (T-72) at an aerodrome in the south-eastern outskirts of Luhansk city. (See SMM Spot Report 5 April 2017.)

In government-controlled areas the SMM saw one self-propelled howitzer (2S1) on a flatbed heading north in Kalinina (68km north of Donetsk).

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites, in non-government-controlled areas the SMM saw at least 27 tanks (type undetermined) near Ternove (57km east of Donetsk).

The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage does not comply with the criteria set in the 16 October 2015 notification. In government-controlled areas, the SMM noted as present six MLRS (9A53 Uragan-1M, 220mm), ten self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) and, for the first time, 12 anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm). The SMM noted as missing, as previously observed, 21 self-propelled howitzers (2S3), nine towed howitzers (three D-44, 85mm; and six D-20, 152mm), 30 mortars (2B11 Sani, 120mm) and four surface-to-air missile systems (9K35 Strela-10, 120mm). At sites previously observed as abandoned, the SMM noted as still missing 27 self-propelled howitzers (eight 2S3 and 19 2S1), 24 towed howitzers (2A65), six anti-tank guns (MT-12) and one surface-to-air missile system (9K35). One site was observed as abandoned for the first time, with three anti-tank guns (MT-12) missing.

In non-government-controlled areas, the SMM noted as present 13 towed howitzers (D-30), three of which were observed for the first time. The SMM observed that six towed howitzers (D-30) were missing, as previously observed. At one site previously observed as abandoned, the SMM noted that 15 mortars (PM-38, 120mm) were again absent.

The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[3] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas the SMM saw one IFV (BMP-1) near Novoluhanske (59km north east of Donetsk). On 11 April, an SMM mid-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted an APC (BRDM-variant) near Toretsk (formerly Dzerzhynsk, 43km north of Donetsk), and on 14 April an SMM mid-range UAV spotted two IFVs (BMP-variant) near Orikhove (60km west of Luhansk).

In non-government-controlled areas the SMM saw, on 13 April, one IFV (BMP-2) near Pionerske (19km east of Luhansk), one IFV (BMP-2) towed by a truck heading north-west near Luhansk city; and on 14 April, one IFV (BMP-2) in Donetsk city, seven IFVs (BMP-2) and 17 armoured personnel carriers (ten MT-LB and seven BTR-80) south-east of Luhansk city. On 11 April, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted two IFVs (BMP-variant) near Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk).

The SMM followed up on media reports that an explosion had damaged railway tracks on the evening of 12 April near Orikhove. An SMM mid-range UAV spotted a possible crater on the southern side of a railway embankment and debris on the tracks.

The SMM observed the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the security zone. On 13 April, an SMM mini-UAV spotted 30-40 anti-tank mines (TM-62) arranged in rows south-west of Katerynivka. On 14 April, at sites in DPR-controlled areas near Komuna (56km north-east of Donetsk) and Novohryhorivka (61km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed projectile tails assessed to be those of MLRS (9P140 Uragan, 220mm) rockets one at each site lodged in the ground. The first site was at least 300m from the nearest house, while the second was within ten metres of the nearest house. The SMM had previously observed both pieces of UXO on 20 February 2017. (See SMM Daily Report 21 February 2017.)

The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire, co-ordinated by the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC), to enable repair of a water pipeline near Zolote and power lines connected to a water pumping station near LPR-controlled Raivka (16km north-west of Luhansk) that serves Raivka and four other villages in non-government-controlled areas.

The SMM monitored two border areas currently not under Government control. During 40 minutes at a border crossing point near Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk), the SMM observed 30 civilian cars (25 with Ukrainian and five with Russian Federation licence plates) in a queue to exit Ukraine. During 45 minutes at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed two civilian cars (licence plates not observed) and 13 trucks with covered cargo areas (ten with Ukrainian licence places, two with Russian Federation licence plates and one with Kazakhstani licence plates) in queues to exit Ukraine, and three civilian cars (licence plates not observed) and five trucks with covered cargo areas (licence plates not observed) entering Ukraine.

The SMM monitored the continuation of protests outside some branches of Sberbank of Russia. (See SMM Daily Report 13 April 2017.) In Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Odessa the SMM again observed gatherings of 5-15 people outside branches of the bank, all of which except for the one in Kharkiv remained open. The gatherings were calm.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Balakliia (74km south-east of Kharkiv) following the fire at an ammunition depot on 23 March. (See SMM Daily Report 6 April 2017.) The SMM observed five State Emergency Services personnel near the depot marking fields for demining, and 15 workers repairing the roofs of damaged private buildings nearby. Owners of five partly damaged private houses told the Mission that electricity and gas supplies were functioning. The SMM noted that a damaged kindergarten remained closed.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Chernivtsi.

*Restrictions of SMMs freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate

The SMMs monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, UXO and other impediments which vary from day to day. The SMMs mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMMs freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the JCCC should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance.

Denial of access:

[1]Please seetheannexed tableforcomplete breakdown of the ceasefire violations as well as map of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions marked with locations featured in this report.

[2]Following renewed commitment made at the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on 29 March 2017 according to whichthe sides agreed on full adherence to the ceasefire and the completion of the withdrawal of weapons by 1 April, in the course of 31 March Ukrainian authorities and LPR members provided the SMM with some information related to weapons which they declared as withdrawn. The SMM received some information from DPR members on some weapons which they declared that they intended to withdraw.

[3]This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

Contacts

Alexandra Taylor Head of Press and Public Information Unit OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine 26 Turhenievska Street 01054 Kyiv Ukraine Mobile: +380 67 650 31 57 alexandra.taylor@osce.org smm-media@osce.org

Mariia Aleksevych Senior Press Assistant OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine 26 Turhenievska Street 01054 Kyiv Ukraine Office: +380 44 392 0832 Mobile: +380 50 381 5192 Mobile: +380 93 691 6790 mariia.aleksevych@osce.org smm-media@osce.org

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Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 14 ... - ReliefWeb

MOSCOW Russia's state broadcaster has said it will boycott this year's Eurovision song contest after the host country, Ukraine, said it would bar entry to the Russian contestant and Moscow rejected two possible compromises suggested by the organizers.

Ukraine said Russian singer Yulia Samoylova could not travel to Kiev for the competition next month because she had performed in Crimea after the region was annexed by Russia.

Moscow accused Ukraine of discriminating against Samoylova and of breaching the contest's rules. The contest organizers also condemned the Ukrainian decision but said the event will go ahead.

Russia's Channel One, the state broadcaster that transmits the contest to large Russian audiences, said organizers had offered the option of sending a different contestant or of having Samoylova perform via video link from Moscow.

"In our view this represents discrimination against the Russian entry, and of course our team will not under any circumstances agree to such terms," said Yuri Aksyuta, the station's chief producer for musical and entertainment programs.

"Naturally, we are not taking part in the Eurovision 2017 competition under the terms that are being offered to us, and we will not broadcast it either," he said.

"The absence of a Russian participant, in my view, is a very serious blow to the reputation of the contest itself, and for Russian viewers it is also another reason not to pay attention to the contest."

The annual singing contest attracts millions of television viewers across Europe. For many countries, especially former Communist states in Europe, performing well in the event is seen as a matter of national pride.

Kiev said that Samoylova has violated Ukraine's borders by entering Crimea without seeking permission from the Ukrainian authorities. Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014, but all but a handful of countries consider it part of Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed "regret that the Eurovision organizers have turned out to be unable to fulfill the terms of their own rules," and compel Ukraine to allow Samoylova to travel to Kiev.

The organizers of the contest, the European Broadcast Union (EBU), said in a statement they had done everything in their power so that all eligible countries could take part.

"We strongly condemn the Ukrainian authorities' decision to impose a travel ban on Julia Samoylova as we believe it thoroughly undermines the integrity and non-political nature of the Eurovision Song Contest," Frank Dieter Freiling, chairman of the events steering committee, said in statement released by the EBU.

"However, preparations continue apace for the Eurovision Song Contest in the host city Kyiv. Our top priority remains to produce a spectacular Eurovision Song Contest."

(Additional reporting by Denis Pinchuk; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

BEIJING/PYONGYANG China said on Friday tension over North Korea had to be stopped from reaching an "irreversible and unmanageable stage" as a U.S. aircraft carrier group steamed toward the region amid fears the North may conduct a sixth nuclear weapons test.

WASHINGTON U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will travel to South Korea on Sunday in what his aides said was a sign of the U.S. commitment to its ally in the face of rising tensions over North Korea's nuclear program.

Excerpt from:
Russia to boycott Eurovision song contest due to Ukraine row - Reuters

Blockades leave east Ukraine more isolated than ever - BBC News BBC News Tom Burridge travels to the conflict zone where tit-for-tat rows have hit communities on both sides. and more »

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Blockades leave east Ukraine more isolated than ever - BBC News - BBC News

Richard Haass Published 3:16 a.m. ET April 13, 2017 | Updated 10:12 a.m. ET April 13, 2017

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says there is a "low level of trust" between Moscow and Washington, after talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Video provided by AFP Newslook

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, right, with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Moscow on April 12, 2017.(Photo: Alexander Nemenov, AFP/Getty Images)

Why should U.S. taxpayers be interested in Ukraine? Thats what Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reportedly asked at a recent meeting in Italy with some European counterparts. The French foreign minister said he told Tillersonthe United States should want a strong Europe. Thats true, but there are many other reasons for Americans to care about Ukraine.

First and foremost, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including its takeover of Crimea and its continued interference in eastern parts of the country, violates the most basic principle of international relations that borders between countries should not be changed through the use of military force.This is what Saddam Hussein attempted in Kuwait in 1990, and what Hitlers Germany attempted before and during World War II. Respect for this principle is the bedrock of what peace and order there is in the world.

A second reason has to do with Russia specifically. Vladimir Putins Russia is a one-dimensional power. Its influence is tied to its ability to dominate others through the use of force, be it military, cyber, or related to Russian oil and gas exports. It is important that Putin not conclude that continued use of force is a viable path to make Russia great again. If he does, he will continue to invade, coerce and interfere.

Ukraines nuclear history is another reason to care. It was once an integral part of the Soviet Union and a good many of the Soviet Unions nuclear warheads were located there. At the time of the breakup, there was concern that many of the newly independent states carved out of the old Soviet Union would become nuclear weapon states. That would increase the number of countries possessing nuclear weapons and the odds they would fall into the hands of terrorists.

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Ukraine voluntarily dismantled its nuclear warheads under a 1994 deal with the U.S., the United Kingdom and Russia. But its subsequent loss of Crimea to the Russians sends a terrible message to other leaders: that giving up nuclear weapons can be hazardous to your political health and territorial integrity. The fact that both Iraq and Libya were invaded after they gave up their nuclear programs and that a nuclear-armed North Korea has not been attacked is a lesson lost on no one.

And that leads to a fourth reason Americans should care. Under that 1994 agreement, the Budapest Memorandum of December 1994, Ukraine received various security assurances. This was not the same as a defense treaty Ukraine did not become a member of NATO but there was no mistaking the intent, to convey that Ukraine could give up nuclear weapons and still remain secure. The assurance has been shown to be empty. A countrys word is its bond, and any time the United States fails to live up to its word encourages adversaries to challenge us and friends to go their own way. Either outcome brings about a world of diminished stability and reduced U.S. influence.

The good news for U.S. taxpayers is that their country can afford to be interested in Ukraine and many other international issues. True, the U.S. spends a great deal on its defense,some $600 billion a year. But this comes to just over 3% of what the economy produces, a level far below the average during the decades of the Cold War.

America can't thrive looking inward: Dan Carney

POLICING THE USA:Alook atrace, justice, media

Just as important, overseas spending is not money that goes down the drain. As we learned on 9/11, as we learned with Zika and Ebola, and as we learned when Russia hacked our computers during the presidential campaign, nothing stays local for long in a global, interconnected world.What comes from or happens out there will quickly come here, for better and for worse.

President Trump campaigned on the theme of America First, and it is of course true that this country faces enormous internal challenges. But inadequate health care and poor public schools cannot be fixed by doing less in the world. Americans already spend more than most others on education and health care.The problem is how we spend it, which is decided by our leaders, whom we choose. Ignoring what goes on in Ukraine or elsewhere in the world will not make us smarter, healthieror richer but it will make us less safe.

Richard Haass is the president of the Council on Foreign Relations and the author of A World in Disarray: American Foreign Policy and the Crisis of the Old Order.

You can readdiverse opinions from ourBoard of Contributorsand other writers ontheOpinion front page,on Twitter@USATOpinionand in our dailyOpinion newsletter.To submit a letter, comment or column, check oursubmission guidelines.

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Richard Haass explains why we should care about Ukraine - USA TODAY