Durbin Speaks In Support Of Bipartisan Legislation To Impose Hard-Hitting Sanctions On Russia If It Does Not Negotiate In Good Faith To End The War In Ukraine
Durbin: “As the President negotiates away Ukraine’s freedom and America’s credibility, Congress has an obligation and a Constitutional responsibility to act.”
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 in support of new, bipartisan legislation he introduced this week with Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), which would impose primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia’s ongoing illegal and unprovoked war in Ukraine. The bipartisan legislation is cosponsored by 50 U.S. Senators, evenly divided by party affiliation. These sanctions would be imposed if Russia refuses to engage in good faith negotiations for a lasting peace with Ukraine or initiates another effort, including military invasion, that undermines the sovereignty of Ukraine after any such peace agreement is potentially reached. The legislation also imposes a 500 percent tariff on imported goods from countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other products.
Durbin began his floor speech by reminding his colleagues that instead of ending the war in Ukraine, President Trump has alienated and bullied our allies around the world with Russia still raining death and destruction upon Ukraine.
“Anyone here remember how Donald Trump promised to end Russia’s war on Ukraine in one day if he was elected? That’s right, in one day. Well, we are now 73 days into his term with Russia still raining death and destruction upon the people of Ukraine. And instead of ending the war, Donald Trump has alienated and bullied our allies around the world—our allies,” Durbin said. “By turning our backs on the rest of the world, Donald Trump has undermined the promise of America as a beacon of democracy, freedom, and human rights. And all the while, Russian President Putin is laughing at us—watching with glee as America destroys its own leadership and credibility, something he could only have dreamed of in his former KGB days.”
Durbin went on to argue that the last few months of so-called negotiations between President Trump and President Putin have led nearly nowhere and have emboldened Russia, including a supposed ceasefire, narrowly limited to stop Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, which was followed by relentless Russian strikes on Ukrainian civilian targets, including a hospital; and a supposed deal to stop fighting in the Black Sea—a giveaway to Russia undermining Ukrainian successes there—which was manipulated to try and squeeze maximum sanctions relief from Russia.
“Consider President Trump’s special peace envoy Steve Witkoff, a real estate tycoon from New York, who is in competition with Neville Chamberlain for the world’s most naïve appeaser. Witkoff recently told another Putin apologist, Tucker Carlson, that he liked Putin and didn’t regard him as a bad guy,” Durbin said. “The same Witkoff groveled over Putin’s obviously manipulative portrait gift to Trump and he said those forced at gunpoint in occupied eastern Ukraine to vote in a sham referendum actually really wanted to be part of Russia. He’s buying the Kremlin talking points.”
Durbin concluded, “But as the President negotiates away Ukraine’s freedom and America’s credibility, Congress has an obligation and a Constitutional responsibility to act. So, I am glad this week that dozens of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle introduced legislation to make it clear to Russia that broad sanctions will be imposed if Russia does not negotiate in good faith and end this war soon. We owe Ukraine—and we certainly owe our own country—nothing less.”
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.
Last month, Durbin asked for unanimous consent (UC) to pass a simple resolution he introduced condemning Russia’s abduction of Ukrainian children and called on Russia to work with the international community to return all abducted Ukrainian children to their families. Senate Republicans rejected Durbin’s UC request.
In February, Durbin introduced the Protecting our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act, legislation that would provide temporary guest status to Ukrainians and their immediate family members who are already in the United States through the “Uniting for Ukraine” parole process. The bill allows Ukrainians to stay and work in the U.S. until the Secretary of State determines that hostilities in Ukraine have ceased and it is safe for them to return.
In February, Durbin also joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and others in leading a simple resolution that expresses continued solidarity with the people of Ukraine and condolences for the loss of thousands of lives to Russian aggression; rejects Russia’s attempts to militarily seize sovereign Ukrainian territory; reaffirms U.S. support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine; and states unequivocally that Ukraine must be at the table for negotiations on its future.
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