[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S54-S55]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                Ukraine

  Mr. President, now on the supplemental and Ukraine, Senate 
negotiators continue. They met several times yesterday. So Senate 
negotiators continue their work on finalizing an agreement for a 
national security supplemental.
  At a time of growing crisis around the world, our supplemental 
package is America's answer to this decisive moment in world history. 
The world stands at a crossroads. The war happening in Ukraine is not 
just between one nation defending itself against another but between 
tyranny and democracy itself.
  The Ukraine war is a conflict of history-altering importance. It 
could reset the balance of power for Western democracies that has 
endured since the end of the Cold War.
  The Ukraine war has not been much in the news lately with so much 
going on in Gaza and at the border and so many other things, but that 
does not mean nothing is happening in Ukraine. Right now, Ukrainian 
soldiers remain determined, but Russian soldiers are beginning to have 
an advantage as ammunition is starting to run out for Ukraine.
  So passing the supplemental will be America's signal to the world 
that we will hold the line not just to defend democracy in Europe but 
to defend our friends in Israel, to deliver critical aid for innocent 
civilians in Gaza and humanitarian aid across the world, and to 
outcompete the Chinese Communist Party in the Indo-Pacific.
  We must keep moving quickly here in the Senate because Ukraine stands

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at a dangerous moment in its war against Putin. Ukrainian fighters 
remain determined and have not lost their resolve to defend their 
homeland, but what they are losing are ammunition and armaments, which 
America has played a leading role in providing. That aid is running 
out, much to Putin's delight.
  Every Senator needs to understand the stakes. If the Senate does not 
approve more aid to Ukraine, the war, which is already trending in 
Russia's direction, could, a month from now, dramatically shift in 
Russia's favor. It is only trending in Russia's direction now because 
of the lack of armaments. As I quoted yesterday, a Ukrainian officer 
said that for every five salvos the Russians fire at his troops, he can 
only fire one salvo back.
  A Russian victory in Ukraine would commence an ominous domino effect 
across the Europe continent of expanded Russian influence. That is not 
a world any of us want to return to.

  In generations past, Democrats and Republicans would have bent heaven 
and Earth to stand up to Russian dictators, we would have balked at 
showing weakness to autocratic thugs who invade their neighbors and 
hope for America's demise.
  We find ourselves in a new moment in history where democracy is under 
siege yet again. We heard directly from President Zelenskyy a few weeks 
ago about what is at stake if we fail. So fail we must not. It is, 
therefore, essential that we finish the work of passing the 
supplemental. It is one of the hardest things the Senate has done in a 
very long time; but for the sake of our national security, of our 
friends abroad, of our fundamental values, we must stay the course.
  Of course, there are many difficulties with the supplemental, but we 
must keep our eye on the ball. We must get this done. Ukraine hangs in 
the balance.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.