[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 109 (Thursday, June 22, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2237-S2238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 268--RESPONDING TO THE THREAT POSED BY THE RUSSIAN 
  FEDERATION'S DEPLOYMENT OF TACTICAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS, AND FOR OTHER 
                                PURPOSES

  Mr. GRAHAM (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 268

       Whereas the military doctrine of the Russian Federation 
     states ``The Russian Federation reserves the right to use 
     nuclear weapons in response to. . . large-scale aggression 
     utilizing conventional weapons in situations critical to the 
     national security of the Russian Federation'';
       Whereas it is estimated that the Russian Federation has an 
     arsenal of as many as 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons;
       Whereas President Vladimir Putin has expressed a 
     willingness to use tactical nuclear weapons when he stated 
     ``If the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, 
     we will without doubt use all available means to protect 
     Russia and our people--this is not a bluff . . . [a]nd those 
     who try to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that 
     the weathervane can turn and point towards them'';
       Whereas, on March 23, 2023, Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy 
     Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, 
     stated ``Every day when they [the west] provide Ukraine with 
     foreign weapons brings the nuclear apocalypse closer'';
       Whereas, in May 2023, the Russian Federation and the 
     Republic of Belarus formalized an agreement that allows for 
     the deployment of the Russian Federation's tactical nuclear 
     weapons in the Republic of Belarus;
       Whereas the deployment of the Russian Federation's tactical 
     nuclear weapons in the Republic of Belarus would be the first 
     such deployment of these weapons outside of the Russian 
     Federation since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991;
       Whereas, on June 17, 2023, President Vladimir Putin 
     confirmed that the Russian Federation had begun to deploy 
     tactical nuclear weapons within the Republic of Belarus and 
     confirmed that the deployment of these weapons would be 
     completed by the end of the summer;
       Whereas, on June 17, 2023, following the announcement of 
     the Russian Federation's deployment of tactical nuclear 
     weapons in the

[[Page S2238]]

     Republic of Belarus, President Biden expressed publically 
     that such a move was ``totally irresponsible'';
       Whereas, on June 19, 2023, President Biden stated, ``I 
     [worry] about Putin using tactical nuclear weapons'', and 
     that the threat of the Russian Federation using such a weapon 
     is ``real'';
       Whereas the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in the 
     Republic of Belarus by the Russian Federation poses an 
     increased threat to not only Ukraine but also our NATO allies 
     and United States troops stationed in nations along the 
     Belarusian border;
       Whereas the use of a tactical nuclear weapon or an attack 
     that results in nuclear fallout of any kind would impact 
     Europe and NATO member states; and
       Whereas Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty states ``. . 
     . an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or 
     North America shall be considered an attack against them all 
     and . . . will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by 
     taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other 
     Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use 
     of armed force, to restore and maintain the security . . .'': 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) agrees that the deployment of the Russian Federation's 
     tactical nuclear weapons within the Republic of Belarus is a 
     threat to Ukraine and NATO member states;
       (2) views the use of any tactical nuclear weapon by the 
     Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, or their 
     proxies, or the destruction of a nuclear facility, dispersing 
     radioactive contaminates into NATO territory causing 
     significant harm to human life, as an attack on NATO 
     requiring an immediate response, including the implementation 
     of Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty; and
       (3) urges the current administration to consult with NATO 
     leaders and other European partners to develop a 
     comprehensive response to minimize the threat to civilians 
     and coordinate a diplomatic and military response 
     commensurate with the situation.

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