[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 24, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H7090-H7091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          TRILATERAL ALLIANCE OF GEORGIA, UKRAINE, AND MOLDOVA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Poe) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, our friends in Moldova, Ukraine, and 
Georgia are facing major threats to their sovereignty from the Russian 
bear. These young democracies are striving to build peaceful, civil 
societies and effective governing institutions after decades of Soviet 
tyranny. Yet Vladimir Putin, the Napoleon of Siberia, refuses to accept 
their independence and sovereign rights as free nations.
  For years, Russian troops have occupied each of these nations and 
incited violence within the borders. Moscow has used corruption and 
coercion to undermine the rule of law in democratic institutions of 
each of these nations. Putin continues to use cyber warfare against 
each of these nations.
  We, as leaders of the free world and guarantors of the international, 
rules-based order, have a duty to stand by these sovereign states. In 
some cases, Mr. Speaker, we have signed pledges to do so.
  Their struggle for freedom is not some distant battle that does not 
concern our well-being. Their fight for self-determination is a battle 
for the global order and the survival of democracy in the face of 
foreign tyranny, specifically Putin's tyranny.
  Nations and the people they represent have the sole right to 
determine their own fates. Foreign bullies like Putin should not 
threaten or dictate their way of life or the futures of those children.
  If we allow Russia to so blatantly break international law, 
particularly the fundamentals of sovereignty and territorial integrity, 
where will it end? When will the Russian bear march in the streets of 
some other friend, a NATO ally, perhaps?
  We must recognize their courage in the face of such a daunting 
challenge and send a message to the Kremlin that we stand with our 
Eastern European friends on their quest to be a free nation and more 
integrated into the West. That is why I have introduced H. Res. 955, to 
affirm U.S. support to the nations of Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova in 
their effort to retain political sovereignty and territorial integrity.
  I am joined in sponsoring this important bipartisan resolution by 
Georgia Caucus co-chair, Representative Connolly from Virginia; as well 
as the co-chairs of the Moldova Caucus, Representative Olson from Texas 
and Representative Price from North Carolina; and the co-chairs of the 
congressional Ukrainian Caucus, Representatives Kaptur of Ohio, Harris 
of Maryland, Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Levin of Michigan.
  Our resolution reaffirms the commitment of the United States to 
support the democratically elected governments of these three nations. 
It condemns Russia's violation of the Budapest Memorandum, a commitment 
it made in 1994 to ensure the independence and territorial integrity of 
Ukraine.
  Putin has lied. He lied in his commitment. Our legislation calls for 
the immediate and complete withdrawal of all Russian military and 
security personnel and equipment from the nations of Georgia, Ukraine, 
and Moldova. It calls for Moscow to end its destabilizing activities in 
all regions of these three countries. It commends the ongoing 
trilateral cooperation between the Governments of Ukraine, Georgia, and 
Moldova to confront Russia's destabilizing activity, and it voices our 
support for U.S. assistance to these three nations, assistance that 
strengthens their capacity to resist Russia's aggression.

                              {time}  1015

  The resolution calls on all free nations of Europe, the United 
Nations,

[[Page H7091]]

and international partners to continue to apply pressure on the 
totalitarian state of Russia to uphold its obligations, and it 
reaffirms U.S. support for these three nations integrating into the 
European Union.
  This implies that Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova must also meet their 
obligations under EU association agreements to commit first and 
foremost to meaningful progress on economic reforms, strengthening 
democratic institutions, combating corruption, building independent 
judicial systems, and holding to the rule of law.
  This resolution marks our shared commitment to democracy in these 
great countries to be united to stand against Putin's aggression.
  Freedom-loving countries must stop the Russian bear and Putin's 
desire to be czar of a new Putinland. As John F. Kennedy said many 
years ago: ``Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, 
that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, 
support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success 
of liberty.''
  And that is just the way it is.

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