The resignation of Victoria Nuland, under secretary of state for political affairs at the Department of State, translates to hard times for Ukraine – a country she has backed during her tenure as the third-ranking U.S. diplomat.
The State Department announced in a March 5 statement that Nuland will step down from her position in the coming weeks. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described her leadership on Ukraine as "one that diplomats and students of foreign policy will study for years to come" in the statement. He also lauded the outgoing official for her "indispensable" efforts to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin's special military operation in Ukraine by "marshaling a global coalition to ensure his strategic failure."
Prior to her current post, Nuland had served as the department's spokeswoman and top diplomat for Europe. During the second Bush administration, she served as the U.S. ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. John Bass, under secretary of state for management, will take over Nuland's position on an acting basis. (Related: The real Victoria Nuland: US foreign policy official retires after decades of fomenting conflict and destruction.)
Dr. Matthew Crosston, a professor of national security at Bowie State University (BSU), put in his two cents on the resignation of the "staunch anti-Putinist Nuland." He pointed to the diplomat's fervent desire "to continue to utilize Ukraine as a platform in which to continue to weaken and/or slight Russia on the global stage." Moreover, Crosston mentioned that Nuland even wanted to "up the ante … with her support of sending ballistic missiles into Ukraine."
According to the professor, it was likely Nuland had become frustrated with the loss of support for her pet project Ukraine in Congress. Lawmakers in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives have blocked the White House's request for more than $60 billion in additional military aid to Kyiv.
"She undoubtedly understood that if American support lessens or wanes, Ukraine loses – period," Crosston, who also serves as BSU's director of academic transformation, told Sputnik. "Perhaps she did not want to be in the administration that would be responsible for that outcome."
Nuland's replacement also a bumbling diplomat
According to Central Intelligence Agency veteran Larry Johnson, Nuland's decision to step down was a surprise. Crosston commented about this development, saying that her resignation means Kyiv has definitely lost a very influential supporter in Washington. He added: "It creates some new speculation beyond the standard 'send more weapons to Ukraine' mantra that has existed so intensely."
Crosston clarified, however, that he didn't think Bass' appointment automatically means the U.S. is going to throw Ukraine down the drain. "One thing is certain: As long as Nuland remained in that chair, there was literally no chance such talk could even be theorized. Now it can," the BSU professor continued.
"Everyone seems to be emphasizing his 'acting' role, which in America always implies a temporary status where he will eventually be replaced by someone else more permanently. So I am not entirely sure that Bass is going to be the holder of any great responsibility in terms of formulating new policy in the role."
Nuland's replacement appears to be little-known internationally, according to Sputnik. The American career diplomat served as U.S. ambassador to the Caucasus-region country of Georgia and in Turkey. Bass came under heavy criticism in both countries for meddling in the affairs of both Ankara and Tbilisi.
"Bass was also a hot-swap replacement for [the] then-acting [U.S.] ambassador [to] Afghanistan during Team Biden's botched withdrawal from the region in August 2021," the news outlet continued. "Now, he is expected to oversee the Ukraine crisis. In light [of] his role in the chaotic and bloody evacuation of Kabul, Bass' new assignment is a hint that the U.S. [is] about to abandon Ukraine as well."
Watch this video about Victoria Nuland's resignation amid Congress blocking further aid for Ukraine.
This video is from the Vampire Slayer channel on Brighteon.com.
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