    [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 2025)]
    [House]
    [Page H863]
    From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                            RAPID RESPONSE SUBGROUP

      (Mr. CARTER of Louisiana asked and was given permission to address
    the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
      Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, President Trump has falsely
    suggested that Ukraine was responsible for the war with Russia and
    should have resolved the conflict years ago. This claim is not only
    unfounded, but it dangerously misrepresents the facts.
      Russia is the invading nation, the aggressor, and the perpetuator of
    war crimes. Louisiana's own Republican Senators agree. Senator Kennedy
    went further, calling Russia's dictator, Vladimir Putin, a gangster
    with a black heart, a figure responsible for unprovoked war and
    atrocities on a sovereign nation.
      It was Russia's invasion that shattered Ukraine's peace, beginning
    with the invasion and annexation of Crimea in 2014 and through the
    full-scale invasion that began just over 3 years ago. Russian forces
    are committing horrific and documented war crimes against Ukrainian
    soldiers and innocent civilians. Senator Cassidy called it out for what
    it was: A war of aggression initiated by Putin, not Ukraine.
      Senator Kennedy also rightly emphasized that negotiating with Russia
    without Ukraine at the table is problematic. Republicans are saying
    this. They are speaking up because they recognize that these are lies
    and that we should stand firm in our support and push back against
    communism and against the hate of Russia and support Ukraine.
      Mr. Speaker, I urge us to do the right thing.

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