[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 16, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S725-S726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                Ukraine

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, yesterday, President Biden addressed 
the country about the ongoing crisis that Russia has created on its 
border with Ukraine.
  There was much in the President's remarks that I appreciated. He was 
right to candidly remind the Russian people that neither the United 
States nor NATO nor Ukraine wants a war. He was right to emphasize that 
the world will not shrug or stand idly by if Vladimir Putin tries to 
invade his neighbor or redraw the map of Europe through deadly force.
  We have spent much time discussing Russia's alleged security concerns 
and not enough time examining the legitimate concerns of Russia's 
neighbors, many of whom have a long history--a long history--of being 
invaded by Moscow. The concerns of these free, sovereign states matter 
as well, and the President would do well to amplify their voices and 
their historical experiences.
  So it is fine for President Biden to engage in good-faith diplomacy, 
provided we are skeptical about Putin's intentions. Thus far, Putin's 
behavior is proving how little he can be trusted and how little he is 
interested in diplomacy as anything other than a gambit to divide the 
West or a pretext for war.
  The United States must keep sending these strong messages, verbally 
and with concrete actions, both right now before any hostilities and 
then with

[[Page S726]]

devastating force if Putin does, indeed, plow ahead.
  The United States and our partners should waste no time in helping 
Ukraine prepare for war--weapons, materiel, advice, logistics, and 
intelligence. We should be building the infrastructure to help Ukraine 
sustain their resistance to Russian aggression if and when it comes.
  I welcome the President's deployment of additional forces to the 
territory of NATO allies situated along our alliance's eastern flank. I 
recommended he take such action months ago. And I am particularly 
grateful to the Kentuckians of the 101st Airborne Division who are 
leaving Fort Campbell this week to join NATO reinforcements in Eastern 
Europe.
  As our diplomats work to halt the train of Russian aggression, it is 
the brave men and women of the U.S. military who give their words added 
weight.
  I am hopeful that President Biden will rise to the occasion. As a 
bipartisan group of colleagues and I made clear in a joint statement 
yesterday, the President would have overwhelming, bipartisan support to 
use his existing Executive authorities for tough sanctions against 
Russia in the event of conflict.
  We should acknowledge Putin's use of energy as a weapon. If the 
President is serious about providing relief for Americans at the pump 
or blunting Putin's manipulation of energy markets, he will stop his 
administration's anti-energy policies that make it harder for our own 
producers to explore, to produce, and to export energy to vulnerable 
allies.
  While our eastern flank allies have consistently taken a clear-eyed 
approach to their own defense, it is time for America to invest more 
meaningfully in our own military capabilities and demand that our 
allies in Western Europe actually follow suit.
  Whether the administration is serious about competition with Russia 
and China will be clear when it submits its fiscal 2023 budget request. 
Our allies and adversaries will all be watching.