[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 17, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2525-S2526]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
UKRAINE
Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, yesterday, in a bipartisan landslide,
the Senate advanced legislation to get more arms and assistance to the
innocent people of Ukraine.
Senators Collins, Cornyn, Barrasso, and I just returned last night
from Europe. Our first stop was Kyiv. It was moving to feel some of the
impacts of Putin's aggression, to see a free and independent nation
made to literally fight for its life. But it was also inspiring to
witness the bravery and the determination that have united Ukrainians
in the face of this onslaught.
Ukraine has had more than its share of domestic political differences
in recent years. Putin must have thought some Ukrainians would
welcome--would actually welcome--invading Russian forces. Instead, both
Ukrainian-speaking and Russian-speaking Ukrainians have united in
defense of their sovereign nation. Some predicted Ukraine would fold in
a few days and Russia would stroll right to Kyiv. That was wrong too.
Ukraine is tough, and Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands, with life moving
back toward normalcy despite the continued threat.
Our delegation was honored to meet with President Zelenskyy. He
expressed his gratitude to the United States for our leadership and
support on a bipartisan basis, as well as for other countries that have
stood by his people in their time of need. America is not the only free
country that has Ukraine's back. President Zelenskyy was moved by
certain European countries who have given Ukraine, in his words,
literally ``everything they had.'' Of course, other European countries
can and should do more to help Ukraine. And the administration should
lead an effort to ensure broad, sustained international support for
Ukraine.
America's support for Ukraine has highlighted the limits to our
stockpiles of certain munitions and shortcomings in our own defense
production capacity. A number of European countries have dipped even
deeper into their weapons inventories. They will need a refill as well.
As our European friends wake up from their ``holiday from history''
and increase defense spending, I hope the United States will be a
reliable supplier of advanced weaponry to our NATO allies, a textbook
win-win.
Our delegation reiterated to President Zelenskyy the bipartisan
consensus which the Senate demonstrated with last night's vote. The
United States of America has Ukraine's back and will stand with our
friends until they win.
Ukraine is not asking anybody to fight their fight for them. They are
only asking for help in getting the resources and tools they need to
defend themselves. And we and our friends and partners across the free
world will stand behind Ukraine until they achieve victory as they
define it. The outcome of this fight has major ramifications for the
West, and the Ukrainians should not be left to stand all alone.
As an overwhelming bipartisan majority of the Senate reaffirmed
yesterday, America's decision to support Ukraine is not some frivolous
act of
[[Page S2526]]
charity. It serves our own national security and strategic interests
for international borders to continue to actually mean something. It
serves our own security and interest to impose massive costs on Putin's
long-running campaign of violent imperialism. And it directly and
powerfully serves our national interest to deter potential future wars
of aggression before they start.
So, Madam President, I assure you that President Xi and the CCP are
watching Ukraine carefully. There is a concrete reason why democratic
Asian countries like Japan and Taiwan are rooting hard for Ukraine to
prevail. Moreover, if we are stuck in a long-term strategic competition
with China, we will want a stable, secure, and strong Europe on our
side.
Speaking of America's national interest, our delegation also visited
what we hope and expect will soon be the two newest members of the NATO
alliance. We arrived in Stockholm and Helsinki just as the leaders of
Sweden and Finland announced their nations will seek to join the
alliance that has secured peace in Europe for more than 73 years.
It was an honor to have robust discussions with Prime Minister
Andersson, Defense Minister Hultqvist, and key parliamentary leaders in
Stockholm; and President Niinisto, Prime Minister Marin, Defense
Minister Kaikkonen, and parliamentary leaders in Helsinki. I gave them
my assurance as Senate Republican leader that I fully support both
Finland's and Sweden's accession. I will do all I can to speed treaty
ratification through the Senate.
Finland and Sweden are impressive and capable countries, with
military capabilities that surpass many of our existing NATO allies. As
new members, they would more than pull their weight.
These two nations' geographic locations are strategic. They have
well-equipped and professional armed forces. Their military and high-
tech industrial bases are robust. There is already significant
interoperability that connects their defenses and NATO's. I will have
more to say on this subject in the days and weeks ahead. Finland and
Sweden would make NATO even stronger than it stands today.
Finally, it must be noted that our delegation was not the most
important group of Americans shipping out to stand with our friends in
Europe--not by a longshot. There are 100,000 American soldiers
currently stationed in Europe to bolster the peace and shore up NATO.
This includes the Kentucky-based V Corps.
And we received word just last week that 4,700 members of the 101st
Airborne from Kentucky's Fort Campbell will also travel to Europe in
the coming months. The Screaming Eagles have a long history of
defending America's national security interests in Europe. I am proud
of these brave men and women for being ready to deploy at a moment's
notice. I am proud America can make this peaceful contribution to our
allies' sovereignty and strength in Europe, and I am proud of the
entire Fort Campbell community for keeping these men and women well-
prepared for this mission.
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