[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 102 (Monday, June 12, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2037-S2038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                Ukraine

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, public reports indicate that the 
armed forces of Ukraine have begun their long-planned counteroffensive 
in earnest. Having blunted Putin's unprovoked escalation last year, 
Ukraine is aiming to drive Russian forces back and out of occupied 
Ukrainian territory on multiple fronts.
  Reaching this point in the conflict is, of course, due in large 
measure to the heroism of the brave Ukrainians defending their 
homeland, but their success is also--also--a credit to the tangible 
support of the United States, NATO allies, and friends around the globe 
who value the same sovereignty and territorial integrity which is under 
attack in Ukraine.
  The acute threat of Russian aggression helped wake many of our 
European friends from a holiday from history. Putin's escalation drove 
many of our closest allies to start investing more seriously in their 
own defense and contribute more readily to collective security. This 
is, of course, a positive development and a critical one as we look 
toward deterring aggression from China.
  At the same time, America's support for Ukraine has done much more 
than sustain their defense. As I have said repeatedly, sending lethal 
Western capabilities to the frontlines has been a direct investment in 
our own security in a number of concrete ways.
  First, equipping our friends on the frontlines to defend themselves 
is a far, far cheaper way, in both dollars and American lives, to 
degrade Russia's ability to threaten the United States.
  Second, Ukraine's effective defense of its territory is teaching us 
lessons about how to improve the defenses of partners who are 
threatened by China. It is no surprise that senior officials from 
Taiwan are so supportive of efforts to help Ukraine defeat Russia.
  Third, most of the money that has been appropriated for Ukraine's 
security assistance doesn't actually go to Ukraine; it gets invested in 
American defense manufacturing. It funds new weapons and munitions for 
U.S. Armed Forces to replace the older materiel we have provided to 
Ukraine.

[[Page S2038]]

  So let me be clear: This assistance means more jobs for American 
workers and newer weapons for American servicemembers.
  I know that media reports about U.S. assistance to Ukraine have been 
really quite confusing--so has the Biden administration's messaging. 
Last week, for example, the administration announced what it called a 
``new'' package of security assistance to Ukraine.
  In reality, this is the latest tranche of assistance. It is not a new 
appropriation. It is just the latest in a slow and steady 
disbursement--perhaps too slow and too steady--of assistance previously 
approved by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress.
  I will have more to say as Ukraine continues to push Vladimir Putin's 
forces backward, and Senate Republicans will continue our efforts to 
invest in America's own national security.