[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 62 (Monday, April 7, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2453-S2454]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                UKRAINE

  Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I come to the floor today once again to 
make a simple point, and that is that the Russian dictator Vladimir 
Putin has once again shown the world that he has no interest in peace.
  In Saudi Arabia, representatives of the United States and 
representatives of Ukraine are continuing to work in good faith toward 
a just end to the war in Ukraine.
  In the coming weeks, a Ukrainian delegation will travel to 
Washington, DC, for the same purpose. They will discuss with our 
leaders the future economic partnership between our nations, Ukraine 
and the United States. Both of our nations want to see an end to the 
war.
  Meanwhile, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin continues to show no real 
commitment to that goal.
  Today, the residents of President Zelenskyy's own hometown, a little 
village by the name of Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, began a 3-day period of 
mourning. They are grieving yet another deadly, barbaric attack by 
Vladimir Putin.
  On Friday, President Putin launched drones and Iranian-made ballistic 
missiles into a residential section of that small city. These drones 
and missiles injured at least 68 people and killed at least 20 people. 
Among the dead were nine children. They were all noncombatants, 
ordinary civilians, living an ordinary day, visiting friends, stopping 
in shops, dining at restaurants, and playing at a children's 
playground.
  The attack on a civilian neighborhood is just the latest sign that 
Putin has no regard for life, but he underscored that fact by raining 
cluster munitions onto a children's playground. The brightly colored 
swing sets and jungle gyms, sites of play and joy, are scenes of 
devastation. The sandbox and merry-go-round are a testament to the 
Russian brutality.
  One of the slain children was a 3-year-old boy named Tymofii. He and 
his grandmother were walking home from the playground when the bombs 
fell. One moment he had been playing, as children should; the next, he 
was gone, killed by a Russian attack on a civilian residential 
neighborhood.
  The killing, like the entire unprovoked war, is an outrage, and it 
demands a response. And I want to quote someone who has not been quoted 
on the Senate floor recently about this topic, and that is former

[[Page S2454]]

Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. He put it well this weekend. The 
former Speaker said:

       Putin attacking Zelenskii's hometown and killing women and 
     children is a deliberate insult to the United States and test 
     of how much dishonesty[,] Brutality, and aggressiveness we 
     will tolerate. He must be made [to] Pay for it.

  And, yes, it is a test of how much we are willing to tolerate, 
particularly in light of the discussions that were going on. The former 
Speaker is correct. Mr. Putin launched this attack on women and 
children in the middle of cease-fire negotiations. These aren't the 
acts of a leader who is interested in peace. The attack is an insult 
and a test, but it is also a test the United States must pass. We must 
not tolerate Vladimir Putin's dishonesty, brutality, and aggression.
  I believe the President of the United States, President Trump, shares 
the former Speaker's views. Early last week, President Trump signaled 
that he was displeased with Putin's refusal to make a deal, as well he 
should have been.
  At last week's NATO summit, Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed the 
point. He said: President Trump will not allow the Russian dictator to 
drag us on in endless negotiation. He said:

       We will know soon enough, in a matter of weeks, not months, 
     whether Russia is serious about peace or not.

  I agree with President Trump on his assessment. I agree with 
Secretary of State Rubio on his statement.
  But as it turns out, it wasn't in a matter of weeks or months. Putin 
showed us in a matter of days. Putin launched his attack the day after 
Secretary Rubio's words.
  The message was clear. He is not interested in peace. He would like a 
phony deal that buys Russia time to rearm.
  We must not allow Russia to waffle forever in negotiations. Vladimir 
Putin would prefer to. Maybe he thinks he can wait out the war forever. 
But let me tell you, Russia's economy and its industry show signs of 
cracking. A lot of the American people do not realize this, but the 
economy of Russia is crumbling. We must show resolve in the face of 
President Putin's growing weakness. We must not let him up off the mat, 
allowing him to shore up strength for another assault.
  President Trump and President Zelenskyy will work toward a deal that 
will be good for the entire free world--good for Ukraine and good for 
the United States, but for the entire free world. As they negotiate, we 
must all keep in mind exactly who their third negotiating partner is. 
And I say, as I said on the floor a few days ago: If Vladimir Putin 
keeps a promise that he makes to the United States in this regard, it 
will be the first time he has ever kept his word on any treaty, on any 
cease-fire. That is who we are dealing with. We have to deal with him, 
but that is who he is.
  Vladimir Putin has shown us again who we are dealing with: a man 
willing to murder children in an attempt to pressure President 
Zelenskyy and President Trump.
  I stand with President Trump and President Zelenskyy in facing down 
this murderous dictator.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. TUBERVILLE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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