[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 9, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E408]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        VALUED ALLIES OF UKRAINE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 9, 2023

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful as Chairman 
of the U.S. Helsinki Commission to have participated in a Congressional 
Delegation to Germany, Poland, and Ukraine with Ranking Member Steve 
Cohen and Congresswoman Victoria Spartz.
  With the leadership of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in 
Europe Executive Director Steven Schrage in Berlin we met with Justice 
State Secretary Dr. Angelika Schlunck, National Security Advisor Jens 
Ploetner, Ministry of Foreign Affairs State Secretary Andreas 
Michaelis, and Ministry of Defense Director Jasper Wieck. It is 
inspiring Germany stands firm with Ukraine. This was the same day 
Speaker Kevin McCarthy forcefully announced, ``I support aid for 
Ukraine . . . I do not support killing children.''
  After visiting Nuremberg, Lt. Gen. Andrew Rohling welcomed the 
delegation to the 7th Army Grafenwoehr Training Area. Led by COL Matt 
Braman and COL Kendall Clarke in Poland, we also visited the 10th 
Mountain Division trainers, who were enthusiastically serving.
  Next at Bucha, Ukraine, survivors of the war criminal Putin's mass 
murder testified coordinated with dedicated Mayor Anatolii Fedoruk. 
Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov thanked America for its support which 
was a prelude to a meeting with courageous President Volodymyr 
Zelenskyy who emphasized his gratitude for American commitment for 
democracy with attendance by U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink and U.S. 
Ambassador Mike Carpenter who both represent America so well.
  Warsaw was the concluding visit with U.S. Ambassador Mark Brzezinski 
and Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Arkadiusz Mularczyk. Poland will 
always be cherished for welcoming millions of Ukrainians who have fled 
war criminal Putin.
  Friends of democracy are inspired by courageous Ukrainians capably 
supported by our appreciated allies of Germany and Poland in the global 
competition between democracies with rule of law opposing 
authoritarians with rule of gun.
  In conclusion, God Bless our troops, who successfully protected 
America for 20 years, as the Global War on Terrorism continues moving 
from the Afghanistan safe haven to America.

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