Accelerating the de-Putinization of Europe: Designating Russia as a State Sponsor of Terrorism

As Putin and Lavrov continue to criminally hold NATO hostage with threats of nuclear and WMD use in Ukraine, Finland, Sweden, Moldova, and beyond, and controlling the war narrative (propaganda of "denazification", false flags, and NATO instigating the war; "proxy war"), Russia uses such leverage to annihilate villages, cities, and communities across Ukraine, and murder hundreds and thousands of innocent civilians across the country, as Russia continues their brutal campaign of aggression, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of terrorism. ?

How long can we simply continue to enable Putin's state sponsored terrorism and destruction of Ukraine?

Putin will not stop his revanchist geopolitical power plays in Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova; and aims to start a war with NATO?to change dynamics away from his feeble military miscalculations in Ukraine and shift accountability of his war crimes to NATO.

We need to accelerate the de-Putinization of Europe, and weaken and defeat Putin in Ukraine and ensure that there is no further illegal annexations from Donbass to Transnistria.

The U.S. State Department? should designate Russia as a state sponsor of?terrorism for:

- repeatedly providing support for acts of international?terrorism in Ukraine and other parts of the world;

- threatening use of nuclear and WMD;

- providing military assistance, training, and financial support to other states sponsoring terrorism (Iran, Cuba, Syria) and terrorist groups (Lebanese Hizballah);

- supporting separatists and mercenaries use of indiscriminate murder, torture, violence and deliberate atrocities in Donbass and Crimea in 2014;

- conducting assassinations, attempted assassinations, and poisonings of Russian dissidents outside of Russia;

- terrorist financing?of Putin's unjust war and terrorism in Ukraine in the pursuit of political aims to instill fear among innocent civilians and decapitate a sovereign, peaceful Ukraine government in 2022; and

- supporting of false-flag terrorist special operations in Transnistria, Moldova by Russian separatists, and other illegal criminalities across Europe.

In addition to actual war crimes, crimes against humanity, crime of aggression, Russia's state sponsored terrorism should not be condoned or their evil criminal behaviors be viewed as normal, just, or acceptable.

The Kremlin has close ties with some nations that are currently on the State Department’s list, including the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria. Moscow’s alleged and attempted?assassinations of dissidents and spies in foreign countries — and its support for separatists in Ukraine that are accused by the United States of murder, rape and torture — could fit the State Department’s criteria.

Inclusion on the list has far-reaching impacts and would exacerbate Russia’s?existing economic woes. The dozens of foreign countries that still trade with Russia could face economic penalties, while Moscow’s U.S.-based assets, including real estate, could be frozen.

Designation as a state sponsor of terrorism would also further underscore Russia’s status as an international pariah.

Russia should join North Korea, Iran, Cuba and Syria.

In addition to designations as a state-sponsor of terrorism, the United States should continue to sanction Putin's Russia as a kleptocracy, criminalized state, and money laundering safe haven.

Tyranny not should endanger the?soveriegnty?of?Ukraine, any free society in Europe, or any?democracy around the world.

#StandwithUkraine?#SupportUkraine?