Rep. Jim Costa: Putin's Aggression in Ukraine Demands a Strong Response

Russia's Unprovoked Aggression

• 🗓️ On February 24th, 2022, Russia launched a pre-planned and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, marking a continuation of its assault on the international order.
• ⚖️ Russia has demonstrated a blatant disregard for international law, national sovereignty, and human rights through actions like the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion.

Putin's Syndicate and Hybrid Warfare

• 🎭 Modern-day Russia is described as a syndicate masquerading as a country, led by a "mob boss" Putin who violates international agreements.
• ⚔️ The conflict is characterized as a hybrid war, combining military force with cyber attacks, disinformation campaigns, and economic warfare.
• 💔 Putin's regime is accused of attacking civilian neighborhoods, bombing schools, hospitals, and churches, leading to the label of "war criminal".

The Importance of American Leadership and Strength

• 🇺🇸 The United States' hesitation or mixed signals do not create stability but invite aggression, underscoring the need for American leadership as the cornerstone of global security.
• 💪 President Putin respects only strength, and by supporting Ukraine, the U.S. sends a clear message that authoritarian regimes cannot invade neighbors without consequences.
• 🤝 A peace deal must be backed by strong military deterrence and commitments from Europe and the United States, including NATO-like defense guarantees.

Ensuring a Sustainable Resolution

• 🇺🇦 Ukraine must have a decisive voice at the negotiating table to shape its own future and determine the terms of peace, respecting its sovereignty and the will of its people.
• 🌐 Agreements must respect Ukraine's sovereignty, and the U.S. must continue to strengthen alliances, develop agile strategies, and be prepared to respond across all domains, including cyberspace and economic coercion.
• 💰 Economic sanctions can work, and the U.S. has leverage with continued military and economic support, using Russia's sovereign wealth to repay the damage and harm caused.

A Pivotal Moment for Global Security

• 🌍 The international order, which has fostered peace and economic prosperity for democratic nations for 80 years, is being challenged.
• 🏛️ This is a seminal moment in world history, requiring colleagues to act collectively and in a bipartisan fashion to stand up for America's values, human rights, and global security.
• 🌍 The world is watching, and this is the test of our time for American leadership.