[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 143 (Wednesday, September 7, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4456-S4457]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                Ukraine

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I rise today to report back from a trip 
that Senator Portman and I took to Ukraine last week. And the No. 1 
thing I would like to report is that President Zelenskyy personally 
asked us--and I know that Senator Portman addressed the Senate last 
night and reported this--but he personally asked us to thank the U.S. 
Senate, to thank the people of this country for the generous and 
unending continuing help that the Senate has given to Ukraine in their 
fight for democracy.
  This is a country that has given it all. Sometimes we wonder, in our 
own country, what are we going to put on the line for our democracy? 
Are we going to go over and vote today? How much do we care? There, the 
people of Ukraine are putting their lives on the line every single day.
  The ballerina who puts on camo and goes to the front lines, the 
exhausted workers at the nuclear plant trying to protect not just the 
country of Ukraine, but surrounding countries because it is the biggest 
nuclear plant in all of Europe, supplying 20 percent of the electricity 
to the people of Ukraine.
  They go to work every day, under incredible stress and pressure that 
we can't imagine, trying to keep their country safe while surrounded by 
500 Russian troops. We think of the cellist playing beautiful melodies 
on the front steps of bombed-out remnants of a

[[Page S4457]]

town square to remind people that culture and love still exist in this 
country.
  I think of the mass grave that we visited in Bucha, in Irpin, the 
apartment buildings after apartment buildings burned out, but Ukraine 
goes on. We saw firsthand the strength of the Ukrainian people in the 
face of Vladimir Putin's inhuman barbarism. But just as Putin has shown 
his true colors, so have the people of Ukraine in brilliant blue and 
yellow. Over the past 6 months since the invasion, their bravery and 
humanity has consistently shone through.

  When Senator Portman and I went to Ukraine last January as part of a 
group of Senators--we were the last group which went in before the war 
started, with Senators Shaheen and Murphy and Senator Blumenthal and 
Senator Wicker and Senator Cramer--we witnessed the incredible resolve 
of the Ukrainian people. Last week, we saw up close a nation defending 
its homeland in a way that few expected would even be possible.
  We had an excellent hour-long meeting with President Zelenskyy and 
Defense Minister Reznikov and the President's chief of staff.
  Our country has helped them so much. We heard the story of how our 
employees at the Embassy--we now have people located in Kyiv--went to 
get some takeout food from a Ukrainian restaurant, and when they got 
the food back, got the bag back, someone, not even knowing who they 
were or where they worked but thinking they were American, had written 
on it: ``Thanks for the HIMARS.''
  Along with at least 42 other nations, from Japan to South Korea, to 
Poland, we have stood with democracy. We have stood with Ukraine.
  We also discussed with President Zelenskyy the counteroffensive 
Ukraine is making to reclaim its territory in the Kherson region. This 
was one of the first cities Ukraine lost when the war began, but we 
have seen some initial signs of success.
  Ukrainians have also announced that they have recaptured some 
villages and knocked out weapons and radar stations and a pontoon 
bridge the Russians had built.
  We are working closely with the Ukrainians to tailor our security 
assistance to meet their immediate needs on the frontlines of the 
conflict, something that was more difficult to do at the beginning. Now 
we actually have people back in Kyiv, and we also have clear lines of 
communication with the Ukrainian leadership.
  Of course, as I mentioned earlier, the situation on the ground 
remains incredibly dangerous, especially in the Zaporizhzhia region, 
home to the largest nuclear plant in Europe, which was a central issue 
that we raised in our discussions with Ukrainian leadership.
  The plant, which, as I noted, previously provided Ukraine with 20 
percent of its power, is at significant risk because of Russian 
shelling.
  Just today, Ukraine announced that they may have to shut the plant 
down for fear of a nuclear disaster, as this skeleton crew constantly 
has to reconnect the lines that have been shelled to not only get the 
power out to Ukrainians, which Russians are trying to divert to their 
territories--to Russian-held territories--to making sure they have the 
power to keep the reactor going and safe.
  We called on Russia to establish a demilitarized zone around the 
plant and to allow the team from the IAEA to inspect the plant. We were 
glad when the team of 14 inspectors visited the plant. Two inspectors 
will remain there indefinitely. This is all happening as we speak.
  The IAEA released its report yesterday and said:

       While the ongoing shelling has not yet triggered a nuclear 
     emergency, it continues to represent a constant threat of 
     nuclear safety and security.

  The agency, which is full of nuclear safety experts from around the 
world, noted extensive safety concerns. They urged an immediate stop to 
fighting on site and in the vicinity.
  I continue to call for that demilitarized zone around the plant. We 
know that this nuclear incident wouldn't be just an incident; it would 
be a catastrophe.
  We all know this is a hard fight, but America must continue to stand 
with Ukraine.
  If Vladimir Putin had been allowed just to enter their country, take 
over an entire democracy, he would never have stopped there.
  We also held a meeting with U.S. military leaders at the 101st 
Airborne Division in Poland, who are there to underscore our commitment 
to our NATO allies and the defense of Europe. They affirmed that the 
Ukrainians are making great use of the weapons we have supplied in 
their fight against Russia.
  In addition to the direct support we are providing to Ukraine, we are 
also seeing that sanctions are working in Russia, as just yesterday, 
the administration reported--our administration--that Moscow is in the 
process of purchasing rockets and artillery shells from North Korea. It 
shows how much trouble Russia is in when they are purchasing military 
equipment from the country of North Korea. This type of desperate 
purchase says a lot about the state of Russia's supply chain.
  In fact, we have seen that as Russia has attacked Ukraine, its 
actions have been met with almost universal condemnation. It was a key 
factor in Finland and Sweden's decision to pursue NATO membership, a 
measure we here in the Senate supported on the floor with a resounding 
95-to-1 vote.
  The United States has provided economic, military, and humanitarian 
aid since the invasion. Our leadership has brought and continues to 
bring other nations to the table and has allowed Ukraine to continue to 
fight for its freedom.
  We remember that moment after the invasion began when President 
Zelenskyy stood in Kyiv and said the simple words: ``We are here.'' 
``We are here.'' That video went viral. ``We are here.''
  From that moment on, he and his people inspired the world--a living 
symbol of courage. So now it is our time to assure the Ukrainians, 
knowing that they are up against the evil of Vladimir Putin, with the 
simple words: ``We are here.''
  I yield the floor.

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