Ukraine’s US lobbying army exposed — RT Russia & Former Soviet Union

Ukrainian lobbyists contacted US congressional places of work, assume tanks, and media figures over 10,000 occasions final 12 months, based on an evaluation of Overseas Brokers Registration Act (FARA) filings reported by the Quincy Institute for Accountable Statecraft on Friday.  

The Quincy report pointed to the “extraordinary” scale of Ukranian’s lobbying marketing campaign, noting that the lobbying effort of Saudi Arabia – generally known as one of many largest overseas lobbies in Washington DC – pales as compared.

In accordance with the report, most of Kiev’s persuasive efforts centered on the members of Congress, who have been deluged with over 8,000 contacts – emails, cellphone calls, and conferences – in an effort to persuade them of the necessity to block the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, amongst different points. The Ukrainian Federation of Employers of the Oil and Fuel Business (UFEOGI), the nation’s largest power commerce group, would reportedly cite Ukraine’s PM arguing that the pipeline was “no much less an existential menace” to Ukraine’s “safety and democracy” than “Russian troops on the border.” The pipeline, which is accomplished however nonetheless has to obtain the inexperienced mild from German regulators, would enable Russia to export gasoline on to Europe with out having to pay Kiev billions for the switch of the gasoline.

UFEOGI lobbyists apparently centered their effort on Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who took simply a number of days to channel the Ukrainian PM on social media. In his personal message, Cruz likewise referred to the Russian pipeline as an “existential menace.”

The commerce group additionally sought to succeed in out to the senators who had beforehand backed laws to scupper the completion of the pipeline, together with a number of members of the Overseas Relations Committee with a historical past of anti-Russian votes. Cruz, Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) have been all contacted a minimum of 100 occasions final 12 months, with a few of these contacts ensuing of their staffers assembly instantly with Ukrainian power lobbyists, the report claims.

The invoice proposed by Cruz would have imposed bans on doing enterprise with US corporations for these concerned with the Nord Stream 2 challenge along with journey restrictions and asset freezes. It didn’t move, nonetheless, having been blocked by Senate Democrats.

A separate legislative proposal, put forth by Sen. Bob Mendendez (D-New Jersey) and dubbed “the mom of all sanctions,” would punish prime Russian officers and banks within the occasion of an invasion of Ukraine. The Quincy report famous that one in all Menendez’s former staffers, Brittany Beaulieu, now represents UFEOGI in addition to the so-called Civil Motion for a Simply Ukraine.

Other than the US lawmakers, Ukrainian lobbyists additionally reportedly courted pro-NATO assume tank the Atlantic Council, contacting it tons of of occasions. The report famous that one of many richest males in Ukraine, Victor Pinchuk, can also be one of many Atlantic Council’s worldwide advisors, whereas his basis is a significant contributor to the assume tank. 

Ukrainian lobbyists additionally focused the Heritage Basis, which has been advocating promoting extra US weapons to Ukraine and ramping up US monetary help to Kiev. The lobbyists reached out 180 occasions to high-ranking figures within the group, together with its VP, all through 2021, based on the report.

The lobbyists additionally didn’t overlook the US media, contacting the Wall Avenue Journal’s newsroom a minimum of 147 occasions final 12 months, the report stated, citing Quincy’s evaluation of the interactions.

Russia has repeatedly denied plans to invade its neighbor, dismissing stories on the contrary as faux information. US media shops, nevertherless, have tried to foretell the outbreak of hostilities right down to the very day, citing nameless authorities sources. Quite a few US officers have argued that the invasion was looming, with Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan saying on Friday that it might start “any time.”

On Saturday, nonetheless, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky referred to as on the People to share the proof they supposedly have of Russia’s intentions after having beforehand warned that stories of an imminent warfare threat destabilizing his nation.