The Senior United States Senator , John McCain pledged to help Georgia and Moldova in case of any loss in economic activity or energy supplies (referring to Russia).
"This is the challenge we now face with Georgia and Moldova, which have decided to deepen ties to Europe and the West. These countries must know that we will help them weather any loss of economic activity or energy supplies, McCain said in his remarks at the Atlantic Council in Washington on December 19.
According to Senator, in a sense, by helping Georgia and Moldova to meet their short-term needs during this transition, "we in the West can convince Ukraine and others that they can count on us too.
Georgia initialled the Association Agreement (AA) with EU at the Eastern Partnership Summit (EaP) in Vilnius on 28 November and plans to sign it in autumn this year. With the agreement, Georgia commits a close and lasting relationship based on common values that is respect for democratic principles, rule of law, good governance, and human rights.
He reminded the world leaders that despite growing challenges in the Middle East and Asia, and other parts of the world, they cannot forget that the work of a Europe whole, free, and at peace is not finished.
"This struggle continues today in Ukraine, and Moldova, and Georgia, and other countries in eastern Europe. We must be no less committed now than before in pursuing our national interest of a Europe whole, free, and at peace And supporting the right of all countries to share the benefits of it. That includes Russia, McCain said.
In the Ukraine, protests have gone on for weeks after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich pulled out of plans to join the European Union and announced an intention to join the Eurasian Customs Union instead.
Talking about the Russian President Vladimir Putins geopolitical ambitions and why Putin will stop at nothing to thwart Ukraines aspiration to become part of Europe, he believes that regardless of the short-term pain that President Putin can inflict on Russias neighbors, history is not on his side.
"The Eastern Partnership countries want the benefits of European integrationa reality that was demonstrated clearly last month, when Georgia and Moldova bucked Russian pressure and signed their own Association Agreements, McCain said.
McCain called the Russias expansion extends beyond Ukraine to the other so-called EU Eastern Partnership countries a bulling mentioned that "Russia is working to establish hardened borders for Abkhazia and South Ossetia by building fences that encroach deeper into Georgian territory.
In Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the two breakaway regions of Georgia, Russian troops are now stationed which compose 20% of the country's territory.