[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 8, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S578-S579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                UKRAINE

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I come to the floor this evening to urge 
that Congress speak with one voice, at a critical time, on an urgent 
matter.
  The fight for freedom is being waged in Ukraine right now, and the 
outcome is going to have profound effects not just in Eastern Europe 
but around the globe.
  Russia has invaded Ukraine twice in the last 8 years, illegally 
annexing Crimea, inserting troops and offensive military equipment into 
the Donbas region in the east. They have initiated cyber attacks 
against public and private entities in Ukraine, and they continue to 
use disinformation to try to destabilize the democratically elected 
government in Kyiv.
  Now, the Russians have gone further by amassing more than 100,000 
troops under the command of 100 tactical groups on Russia's Ukrainian 
border. This Russian deployment includes rockets, tanks, and artillery, 
and it is no longer just on the eastern border of Ukraine but now on 
the northern border, where Russian combat troops and heavy equipment 
have moved into Belarus and in Crimea in the Black Sea area.
  Let me give a little history as to how we got here. Eight years ago, 
Ukraine made a choice. The people of Ukraine stood up to a corrupt 
Russian-backed government in 2014 and made a conscious decision to turn 
to the West--to the European Union, to the United States.
  I was in Ukraine in 2014 shortly after what is called the Euromaidan 
or the Revolution of Dignity. When I was there in 2014, the Revolution 
of Dignity barricades were still up, and in the center of town, the 
Maidan was still occupied by Ukrainian patriots who were determined 
that their country not go backwards.
  The Ukrainian people at that time rejected authoritarianism. They 
said instead they were choosing democracy, freedom of speech, and 
freedom to gather, respect for the rule of law and free markets--
turning to us.
  Despite Russia's unrelenting efforts at destabilization over the past 
8 years, the Ukrainian people are more committed than ever to an 
independent, sovereign, and democratic nation. And Ukrainians today are 
increasingly patriotic and opposed to the Russian efforts to 
destabilize their country. They don't want state control, repression, 
and fear; they choose liberty and prosperity.
  Moscow would have the world believe that somehow this massive, 
unwarranted Russian buildup is about trying to shore up its border 
against threats from Ukraine and NATO. This is, of course, patently 
false. Ukraine's military posture has always been purely defensive, 
and, unlike Russia, Ukraine has up held its commitments under the Minsk 
agreements, which were designed to ensure a ceasefire in Eastern 
Ukraine in the Donbas region.
  NATO, of course, is a defensive alliance and is no threat to Russian 
territorial integrity. NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg 
recently told reporters that the ``significant movement'' of Russian 
troops into Ukraine's neighbor, Belarus, is the ``biggest Russian 
deployment there since the Cold War.'' And Russian troop numbers in 
Belarus are likely to climb to 30,000, with the backing of special 
forces, advanced fighter jets, short-range ballistic missiles, and S-
400 ground-to-air missile defense systems. This is new.
  By the way, Ukraine is not asking for us to fight these wars for 
them. They have been in a war with Russia over the past 8 years. They 
have lost over 14,000 Ukrainians to this battle, including at the line 
of contact, where there has been a hot conflict. I have been to the 
line of contact. I have seen it. I have seen where the Russian snipers 
have killed Ukrainian soldiers. I have talked to the soldiers from 
Ukraine, who are determined, committed, and patriotic.
  Fourteen thousand people--if you compare the population of Ukraine to 
our population here in the United States of America, that would be the 
equivalent of us losing about 120,000 Americans over the past 8 years 
to an enemy. That is more people than we lost in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, 
and Afghanistan combined. Think how we would feel. This is how the 
Ukrainians feel.
  Ukraine is not asking, again, for us to fight their war for them, but 
they are asking for increased lethal military assistance to help defend 
themselves should Russia make a big mistake and decide to invade 
further into Ukraine.

[[Page S579]]

  When it comes to our allies, I have been pleased that most have 
really stepped up to help Ukraine during this crisis. The British have 
provided anti-tank missiles. When I was in Ukraine recently with the 
congressional delegation, as we left the airport--this was about 3 
weeks ago--a cargo plane arrived--an American-made cargo plane--with 
weapons from the U.K. The United Kingdom was providing anti-tank 
weapons to Ukraine. I saw them being unloaded, and I saw the smiles on 
the faces of the Ukrainians knowing that this will give them a better 
chance to defend themselves. We appreciate the Brits.
  The Canadians have helped, specifically recently providing important 
training on some of the new equipment they are getting. The Danes have 
helped with additional funding, and the Baltics have transferred 
weapons as well. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have all been strongly 
supportive. Poland has been so supportive--and so many others.
  We need all of our allies to step up like that--certainly all of our 
NATO allies but, really, all freedom-loving countries around the world. 
This is where the cause of freedom is being fought right now.
  My hope is that Congress can come together and speak with one voice--
Republicans and Democrats alike--pass bipartisan sanctions legislation 
and an aid package that sends a strong message of support to the 
Ukrainian people, a message that we stand with them in their fight for 
freedom but also sends a strong message to Russia that, if they choose 
to invade further, the armed conflict will carry a heavy cost, the 
sanctions will be devastating--and, finally, legislation that sends a 
strong message to the world that the United States stands with its 
allies in Eastern Europe and throughout freedom-loving countries across 
the world.
  The time to speak is now, with one voice. The world is listening and 
watching.

                          ____________________