Senator Joni Ernst on Ukraine's Fight for Freedom and US Principles

Support for Ukraine and Sanctioning Russia

• 🇺🇦 Senator Joni Ernst expresses strong support for Ukraine in its war against Russia's invasion and for the "Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025."
• 🌍 The conflict is framed as not only affecting Ukraine but also the strength of the United States and the security of the free world, with global adversaries like China, Iran, and North Korea observing.

Personal Experience with Ukrainian Freedom

• 💡 Ernst recounts a 1989 visit to Ukraine during Soviet control as part of an agricultural student exchange.
• 🗣️ She was surprised that the first questions from Ukrainian families were not about agriculture, but about "What is it like to be free?"
• ⛓️ Ukrainians expressed a desire to break free from Soviet socialist structures, authoritarian restrictions on movement, employment, and speech.

Ukrainian Support During Iraqi Freedom

• 🇺🇸 Ernst recalls serving in Iraq in 2003 during "Operation Iraqi Freedom" and witnessing Ukrainian soldiers as combat forces.
• 🤝 Ukraine, not being part of NATO, voluntarily sent soldiers to support the US, with Ukrainian engineers performing crucial road clearing operations.

Principles and Global Security

• 🕊️ Ukraine is currently fighting not only for its survival but for the very principles the United States was founded on.
• ⚠️ Ernst criticizes the Biden administration's disengagement, stating that chaos fills the void when America retreats.
• 🛑 She supports President Trump's efforts to broker a peace deal and vows to continue working on sanctioning Russia and its supporters to end the conflict.