WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Senate Banking Committee Chairman and Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman and Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) today released the following joint statement that the U.S. Senate stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine:
“In this dark hour, we are sending a bipartisan message of solidarity and resolve to the people of Ukraine, and an equally clear warning to Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin.
“Should Vladimir Putin further escalate his ongoing assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty, Russia must be made to pay a severe price. We are prepared to fully support the immediate imposition of strong, robust, and effective sanctions on Russia, as well as tough restrictions and controls on exports to Russia, and we will urge our allies and partners in Europe and around the world to join us.
“In the face of Russian escalation against Ukraine, we will continue to support robust security, economic, and humanitarian assistance for the people of Ukraine. The United States and our partners should also move quickly to ensure that the Government of Ukraine receives sustained emergency assistance to defend against an illegal Russian invasion.
“Make no mistake: the United States Senate stands with the people of Ukraine and our NATO allies and partners most threatened by Russian aggression. Our troops stand ready to reinforce the defenses of our Eastern European allies and we are prepared to respond decisively to Russian efforts to undermine the security of the United States at home and abroad. We also call upon our allies to join us in bolstering NATO’s eastern flank.
“The international order established in the aftermath of World War II has not faced such a grave threat since the Cold War. This order, which protects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, has enabled an unprecedented era of peace and prosperity for the United States and its allies. Unfortunately, Russia is threatening this system, and the United States is prepared to meet this challenge with bipartisan and unified resolve.”
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