“Photo: Getty Images Former US President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29, was always a friend of Ukraine. As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said, Carter was president of the United States when Ukraine was not yet independent, but “his heart was without hesitation with us in our ongoing struggle for freedom.” Finally decided in February 2022 On the day of full-scale […]”, — write: businessua.com.ua
Photo: Getty Images
Former US President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29, was always a friend of Ukraine. As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said, Carter was president of the United States when Ukraine was not yet independent, but “his heart was without hesitation with us in our ongoing struggle for freedom.”
It was finally decided in February 2022On the day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Carter made an official statement as a former US president.
– Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine using of military and cyber weapons violates international law and basic human rights of the Ukrainian people. I condemn this unjust attack on the sovereignty of Ukraine, which threatens the security of Europe and the whole world, and I call on President Putin to stop all hostilities and restore peace. The United States and its allies must support the people of Ukraine in their right to peace, security and self-determination, Carter said then, clearly defining his position.
At the same time, Carter’s statements regarding Crimea annexed by Russia made Ukrainians surprised.
– No matter what the Western world did, Putin would still do it, because Russians have always considered Crimea a part of them, and as you know, most Crimeans wanted to be part of Russia, so it was inevitable, – said Carter in March 2014.
He compared the annexation of Crimea with the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan, which fell during his presidency, and suggested arming the Ukrainian army. However, a year later, he already said the opposite and addressed to US President Barack Obama his thoughts not to arm Kyiv and the east of Ukraine in particular. But after February 2022, Carter’s position became more unambiguous.
In the presidential election, Carter won over voters with his open smile. Photo: wikipedia.org
A weak president and a strong ex-presidentJimmy Carter led the United States of America from 1977 to 1981, coming three years after the Watergate scandal and the resignation of President Nixon, and handed over power to Ronald Reagan, who won by a huge margin.
According to the recollections of contemporaries, Carter conquered the voters with a wide sincere smile, the accent of a native of the southern state of Georgia and the determination to govern honestly and decently. However, it so happened that foreign policy succeeded him a little better than domestic. While he sought peace agreements between the conflicting countries, the US economy was collapsing, inflation was rising, and the energy crisis was raging. A key event in Carter’s presidency was the 444-day hostage-taking in Iran, when student revolutionaries captured dozens of Americans and showed the world America’s weakness.
Of course, after this, Reagan won the election by literally playing, giving out a lot of promises and taking voters with political experience, which Carter did not particularly have.
Surprisingly, the popularity of the ex-head of the White House only increased after his tenure. After the presidency, Carter was engaged in the protection of human rights, was a mediator in the settlement of international conflicts (for example, Israel and Egypt), taught in a Christian Sunday school until the age of 90. For 40 years, Carter and his wife, Rosalyn, together with their organization – the Carter Center – monitored elections in hot spots, negotiated with despots, fought poverty and homelessness, disease and epidemics, and contributed to the strengthening of public health in countries , which are developing.
Jimmy Carter was the oldest former president, surpassing the late George W. Bush, who died at the age of 94 in November 2018. Jimmy Carter lived with his wife Rosalyn for 77 years, until her death in November 2023. He himself called marriage to Rosaline the “peak” of his life. The couple is survived by four children, Jack, Chip, Jeff and Amy, as well as 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
On the subject
Despite the warm words of sympathy from the US president-elect Donald Trump to the Carter family, it is worth remembering that the 39th US president himself spoke disapprovingly of Trump five years ago. As CNN reported, in September 2019, Carter warned Americans against re-electing Trump.
“I think it will be a disaster if there are four more years of Trump,” he said.
During the recent presidential election, Carter’s grandson, Jason Carter, said that the former president “wanted to live long enough to vote for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.” Jimmy Carter managed to do that by sending his mail-in vote for vice president.
By the way
According to The New York Times, the plan for the funeral of the 39th president of the United States has been known for a long time and, after all, was approved by him. Carter’s body will be transported from Plains to Atlanta and then to the Capitol (Georgia). Then – to the Carter Center, where everyone will be able to say goodbye to him for a day and a half. After this ceremony, the body will be taken to the Capitol in Washington. The funeral service will be held at the Washington Cathedral, after which Jimmy Carter will be buried at his estate in the Plains.
Source: kp.ua