[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 151 (Tuesday, September 16, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6656-S6657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, last week, the world witnessed an 
unprovoked violation of NATO airspace by Russia. Nearly 20 Russian 
drones entered Polish airspace, some traveling up to 300 miles in the 
country. For nearly 6 hours, NATO aircraft sought out and destroyed 
these Russian intruders.
  Then this weekend, fighter jets intercepted another Russian drone 
that entered NATO airspace--in this case, Romania.
  The EU's chief diplomat Kaja Kallas promptly said of the recent 
incident: ``The violation of Romanian airspace by Russian drones is 
another unacceptable breach of an EU member's state sovereignty. This 
continued reckless escalation threatens regional security.''
  I couldn't agree more. With such brazen testing of NATO defenses, one 
would expect our leader, the President of the United States, to make a 
similar condemnation and reaffirm the alliance's formidable defensive 
capabilities.
  But the response from President Trump has been silence or bizarre 
musings saying maybe it was just a mistake by Russia. After months of 
Russian President Putin ignoring Trump's deadlines for negotiations to 
end the war in Ukraine, he is once again letting Putin embarrass him on 
a global stage.
  Can anyone here imagine Ronald Reagan being played over and over 
again by the Russians like this? How about John McCain? How about the 
Republican Party before Trump, which has sat quietly month after month 
afraid to speak the truth about Vladimir Putin?
  Is there anyone in this Chamber who would argue with a straight face 
that a Democratic President repeatedly kowtowing to Russian aggression 
wouldn't be met with howls of criticism?

[[Page S6657]]

  So let me say this once again to President Trump: I don't fault you 
for trying to negotiate an end to this horrific war in Ukraine, but it 
has been clear for some time to everyone that Mr. Putin is not serious 
about your overtures.
  In fact, he has repeatedly responded with embarrassingly clear 
replies. What did he do when we told him we wanted peace in Ukraine? He 
increased bombing. He violated NATO airspace. He teamed up with other 
global despots in acts of sabotage and mayhem all across Europe.
  I urge President Trump to finally see Putin for the person he is and 
what he is doing to America's reputation and the President's own 
personal legacy. And we in Congress should finally move this week to 
pass the Russian sanctions bill, which I understand has 85 cosponsors. 
It is long overdue. Let's do it.

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