[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 4, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S12]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                Ukraine

  Mr. President, before I close, I want to take a moment to comment on 
the situation in Ukraine.
  Tensions remain dangerously high as Russia has amassed a reported 
100,000 troops on Ukraine's border. This, of course, is just the latest 
aggressive move by Russia, which already illegally annexed Crimea in 
2014 and has been supporting separatist forces in the Donbas region of 
eastern Ukraine.
  It may have been overlooked during the busy holiday season, but I 
would like to note for the record a bipartisan, bicameral virtual 
meeting that occurred on the morning of Christmas Eve with Ukrainian 
President Zelensky. I participated in this meeting, which enabled us to 
discuss the current security situation directly with President 
Zelensky.
  We discussed the importance of the more than $2\1/2\ billion in 
security assistance the United States has provided since 2014, 
including $300 million in the latest National Defense Authorization 
Act. But given the urgency of the situation, the Biden administration 
must consider additional emergency assistance at this critical time, 
and security assistance must also be backed by strong sanctions to 
deter any further Russian advances.
  Unfortunately, President Biden has already given Russia a pass on one 
of Vladimir Putin's top priorities: the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline. I have 
spoken before about the European security risk and economic harm to 
Ukraine that will be caused by Nord Stream 2. Yet President Biden has 
not enforced sanctions related to the pipeline--mandatory sanctions, I 
might add--that are required by law.
  Per an agreement made prior to the Christmas break, the Senate will 
soon have a vote on these sanctions, and the message to Russia and 
President Putin must be clear: Don't interfere with the aspirations of 
Ukraine, and let Ukraine determine its future by the will of its 
people.
  This is not a case of the United States and NATO looking to push 
east; this is a former Soviet state seeking to cast off Russia's grip, 
assert its sovereignty, and, of its own accord, align itself with the 
ideals of freedom and embrace peace and prosperity as a free and 
independent nation.
  The United States should stand with Ukraine and against Russia's 
aggression.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LUJAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________