Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Calling On President Trump To Stand Up For Our Allies Following Major Ukrainian Strike On Russia

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor following one of the most significant Ukrainian attacks against Russian military targets of the war, calling on President Trump to show backbone in standing firmly behind Ukraine and squarely against Vladimir Putin. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Yesterday, Ukrainian forces carried out one of the most significant attacks against Russian military targets of the entire Ukrainian war.

The single best thing President Trump can do to strengthen Ukraine’s hand right now is show that the U.S. stands firmly behind them, and squarely against Russia. But so far, Donald Trump has not done that.

Putin is a clear villain and bully, so where is Donald Trump’s backbone? Where is his conviction? Where is that toughness Donald Trump likes to project?

Frankly, Senators from both sides of the aisle are getting tired of Donald Trump’s wishy-washy approach to Putin. If Donald Trump won’t stand up to him, the Senate must.

I support legislation by Senators Blumenthal and Graham that would land a hammer-blow of sanctions in a tougher way than we have ever done before against Russia.

Eighty Senators from both sides of the aisle, including Leader Thune and myself, co-sponsor this bill. Both sides should finish negotiating any necessary changes to the bill, and then we should put the sanctions on the floor for a vote as soon as possible. It’s very much needed and it’s needed now.

But then we must do more. The administration should turn over every stone to identify more air defense systems that we – or our allies – can send Ukraine, including ammunition for its patriot systems. This will save civilian lives.

And the U.S. should keep going and giving – more drone and counter-drone support, greater intel sharing. These are things the administration could start doing right now.

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