[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 9, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                Ukraine

  Now, Mr. President, on Ukraine, 775 days since Vladimir Putin began 
his illegal invasion, the war in Ukraine now stands at a bitter and 
decisive stalemate. Russian forces today control about 20 percent of 
Ukrainian territory. As one recent headline from the Washington Post 
put it, ``With no way out of a worsening war, Zelensky's options look 
bad or worse.''
  Now, let's be very clear about one thing: The tide of the war is 
shifting against Ukrainians not because they are giving up, not because 
they aren't brave enough, or because they are somehow inferior to 
Russian soldiers. They are not; they are superior. No. Ukraine is 
losing ground on the war because it is running out of the tools it 
needs to wage war to begin with. Ukrainians are low on ammo, on 
soldiers, on weapons, on antiaircraft defenses.
  And let's be blunt: The biggest reason Ukraine is losing the war is 
because, here in the U.S. Congress, the hard right has paralyzed the 
U.S. House of Representatives from taking necessary action. That is it, 
plain and simple--no ifs, ands, or buts.
  It has now been 56 days since the Senate passed a national security 
supplemental package with robust military aid to help Ukraine. It 
passed with just about every Democrat and close to a majority of 
Republicans voting for it. This package could mean the difference 
between victory and defeat for Ukrainian fighters. In fact, President 
Zelenskyy himself said as much when he spoke to the Senate in December.
  But sadly, alarmingly, tragically, Speaker Johnson has sat on his 
hands for nearly 2 months now as the supplemental package collects dust 
in the House.
  House Republicans have refused to move because an increasingly vocal 
pro-Russian, pro-Putin minority seems to be running the show within 
their ranks--a contingent that takes its marching orders directly from 
Donald Trump. As one former House GOP Member called them, they are like 
the ``Putin wing'' of the Republican Party.
  The Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee 
recently said in an interview that Russian propaganda has now 
``infected a good chunk of my party's base.'' That is a Republican 
talking about what has happened to the base--the hard-right base of his 
party.

  Even the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee 
admits that some within his own party are becoming evangelists of 
Russian propaganda. As he said just a few days ago, ``We see directly 
coming from Russia attempts to mask communications that are anti-
Ukraine and pro-Russia messages, some of which we even hear being 
uttered on the House floor.''
  That is what the Republican chair of the House Intelligence Committee 
said: We are hearing pro-Russian messages being uttered on the House 
floor.
  Ronald Reagan is rolling in his grave.
  Speaker Johnson has to decide for himself whether or not he will do 
the right thing for Ukraine and for America or if he will allow MAGA 
Republicans and the Putin wing of the Republican Party to hand Vladimir 
Putin the victory he seeks.
  History, Speaker Johnson, is watching. History is looking right over 
your shoulder. Do the right thing.