Durbin: President Trump Is A Pushover For Russian President Vladimir Putin
On the Senate floor, Durbin condemns President Trump’s attacks on Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor condemning President Donald Trump after he publicly attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Further parroting a Kremlin propaganda point, President Trump also falsely claimed that Ukraine started the war against Russia.
“Three years ago, the Russian invasion of Ukraine was not a partisan issue in the United States. Congressmen and Senators on both sides of the aisle agreed on the basic facts—Russia was waging an unprovoked, illegal war and must be stopped at all costs. And for the past three years, we have supported Ukraine with the funding it needed to beat back Russian aggression and defend the frontline of democracy in Europe. And the Ukrainian people have done just that—46,000 Ukrainian lives have been lost—46,000 defending their nation against Putin,” Durbin said. “President Trump is a pushover for Russian President Vladimir Putin, always has been and will always be. Since Trump took office, he has played right into Putin’s hands, the outrageous comments he posted today on Truth Social make that painfully clear.”
In the post, President Trump claimed the U.S. was “duped” into spending billions to help Ukraine defend itself following Russia’s 2022 full-scale military invasion and that President Zelenskyy is a “dictator without elections.”
“Can you believe that? An American President selling out a democratic leader bravely defending his country from an actual dictator—Putin, a former KGB apparatchik at that? It is insulting to say that. It is shameful. But from this President, it is no surprise,” Durbin continued. “President Trump is doing nothing more than parroting Kremlin propaganda and spreading lies that Putin whispers into his ear. I could call on Trump to apologize to the people of Ukraine who have suffered so much, but it would be a waste of breath. Let me be clear to President Trump, you don’t make America great by selling out our nation and allies to a Russian dictator. Most of my Republican colleagues know this… but it’s time now for them to speak up.”
Durbin concluded his speech by reflecting on President Abraham Lincoln in which he stated when referring to the Civil War, “Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war, rather than let it perish. And the war came.”
“Putin has made war rather than let Ukraine survive and Ukraine has had no choice but to accept war rather than see itself perish. And President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people have led that noble effort with strength, fortitude, and determination. As their ally, as a fellow democracy, as a nation committed to freedom—the United States of America has an obligation to stand by Ukraine—not to appease Putin,” said Durbin.
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
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