[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 214 (Monday, December 13, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9110-S9111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                 Russia

  Now, Madam President, this not only makes for an extremely 
discontented group of people, it makes us vulnerable as a nation. The 
new ``axis of evil,'' as I like to call them, is watching. Communist 
China, Iran, and North Korea are all watching the chaos here in 
Washington play out with great interest, and, if the past few weeks 
have taught us anything, so is their counterpart in the ``axis of 
evil''--Russia.
  On Sunday, we saw a flood of so-called strong signals coming from the 
G7 following a meeting to discuss Russia's aggression toward Ukraine. 
Now, I don't discount the importance of these statements--I do hope 
Vladimir Putin heard us loud and clear--but I also know that statements 
mean nothing unless they come from a position of strength and unless 
they are accompanied by action, and right now, that is not what the 
Biden administration is projecting or doing.
  President Biden's refusal to lead by example is putting us in danger, 
and it is putting our partners in Kiev in danger. His administration 
has spent the

[[Page S9111]]

past year throwing policy spaghetti against the wall, trying to get 
something to stick. The American people, of course, aren't interested 
in what he has to offer. Nevertheless, he persists, pivoting when he 
needs to recapture the mainstream media's attention.
  Meanwhile, over in Russia, Putin is enjoying every single minute of 
this. He is probably laughing. He knows he can be as belligerent as he 
pleases because his most powerful and lethal adversary is totally 
distracted.
  Today, I sent a letter to the White House, asking them to clarify the 
spin they have been putting out on our posture concerning Ukraine. Here 
is the problem I am trying to get to the bottom of.
  On December 9, the Associated Press reported on a diplomatic phone 
call between Biden and the Ukrainian President. During the call, the 
White House allegedly made it clear that we support Ukrainian 
sovereignty. That is good. However, that report also revealed a 
supposed plan, concocted by the White House, to persuade Ukraine to 
cede territory--cede their territory--to Russia because it is currently 
controlled by Russian separatists. White House Press Secretary Jen 
Psaki has denied the latter. I still have some questions about what is 
going on behind the scenes.
  History tells us that autocrats and thugs like Putin find their 
greatest power in the weaknesses of their adversaries. That is right. 
When they see weakness, they pounce. Strength is the only thing that 
deters them.
  Have my colleagues across the aisle ever heard of ``peace through 
strength''? Have they looked at that as a policy?
  President Biden must summon the strength to stop playing political 
games for the cameras and confront this direct challenge to Ukraine's 
sovereignty. My Democratic colleagues must join him. This will require 
more than strong words. It does require action.

  This year's yet-to-be-passed NDAA authorizes $75 million in lethal 
assistance to Ukraine. It is time to pass this bill.
  And I would add, that the fiscal year 2022 NDAA is the most 
bipartisan thing that has come out of the Senate all year.
  It is a no-brainer. Let's get this done and not just for Ukraine, but 
also the future of Western Europe. That is also at stake.
  The Biden administration must stand firm and reimpose meaningful 
sanctions on Nord Stream 2. This one pipeline will double the total 
capacity of Russian gas exports and hand even more economic leverage to 
the Kremlin. Why would we want to do that? Ukraine, on the other hand, 
will lose an estimated $3 billion each year in transit fees.
  Putin is weaponizing energy in Europe. Our partners in Ukraine are 
living under the constant threat of invasion, and the Biden 
administration is just sitting there and letting it happen.
  So here we are, at the eleventh hour, Christmas is coming, and we are 
still waiting for Biden and the Democrats to do the job the American 
people elected them to do.
  They have squandered an entire year trying to conjure up support for 
their disastrous socialist agenda. We are never going to get this time 
back, and the American people who are suffering are not going to get 
this year back.
  But now is not the moment to just let things go. We can't afford 
weakness and spin, not when it comes to the economy, not when it comes 
to foreign policy, and certainly not when it comes to proving to the 
American people that there is someone in Washington watching out for 
them.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Delaware.