[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 16, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1193-S1194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                Ukraine

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, moments ago, speaking through a video 
feed from Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed 
Members of both the House and the Senate as the war in Ukraine enters 
its 21st awful day.
  It is one of the highest honors of any Congress to welcome remarks by 
a foreign head of state, but it is unheard of to hear from a leader 
fighting for his life, fighting for his country's future, and fighting 
to preserve the very idea of democracy.
  I cannot remember the last time a foreign leader united a room full 
of Members from both sides so quickly and so intensely. He spoke not 
just to American ears but to America's very soul. In one sense, his 
speech was reminiscent of the stirring feeling all of us had in the 
aftermath of 9/11: equal parts resolve and unity and determination to 
save democracy from an hour of darkness.
  As we have said from the start of the war, the Senate, the Congress, 
and the American people stand unequivocally behind the people of 
Ukraine. America will continue to strengthen our NATO allies and 
reassure our friends in Europe that we will remain a steady ally. It is 
why, last week, Congress approved nearly $14 billion for food, shelter, 
money for Javelins and Stingers and anti-aircraft weapons and refugee 
help. Every last penny that the United States sends to Ukraine is money 
well spent.
  This morning, it is reported that President Biden will also announce 
another $800 million in military assistance. This means even more anti-
tank, anti-aircraft missiles and other weapons that have been the most 
effective on the battlefield for the Ukrainians.
  Last night, the Senate also unanimously passed legislation supporting 
investigations by the International Criminal Court into potential war 
crimes by Putin and his regime. I thank Senator Graham and the many, 
many others who backed this bill. The Senate also confirmed the 
Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice, our lead advocate in 
making sure this investigation is robust and it is swift.
  These steps are all necessary. Over the last 2 weeks, we have seen 
Putin attack the largest nuclear plant in Europe, attack the Chernobyl 
containment site, attack a children's hospital, and attack designated 
humanitarian convoys. Putin, so far, is not winning militarily so now 
this evil man is trying to win by massacring civilians; massacring 
babies; parents, the elderly; and targeting apartments, just as he did 
in Syria, just as he did in Chechnya. If this doesn't equal a war 
crime, I don't know what does.
  If it wasn't clear before, it should be clear now that President 
Putin and his

[[Page S1194]]

band of cronies are not going to stop. But in his monomaniacal hubris, 
Putin has severely--severely--underestimated the Ukrainian people. 
Every time an innocent Ukrainian is killed, the resolve of the people 
grows stronger, and we stand with them. I join my colleagues in one 
voice to say this: ``Slava Ukraini,'' glory to Ukraine.
  And, Mr. President, just seeing the video that the President showed 
us is heartbreaking and strengthens our resolve. Putin, by being such a 
villain, by being such a brutal, evil man, is not going to deter the 
Ukrainians, for sure, and not the American people from helping Ukraine. 
It strengthens our resolve when we see how vicious, how brutal he is.