Senator Peter Welch on Supporting Ukraine and Condemning Russian Aggression

Ukraine's Resilience and Military Innovation

• 🇺🇦 Four years after Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine has demonstrated remarkable bravery and resilience in defending itself against a more powerful enemy.
• 🚀 Ukraine has built a formidable military, including an army of approximately one million, and developed innovative fighting capabilities like long-range drones and stealth naval drones that have pushed the Russian Navy out of Crimea.
• 💡 Over 200 Ukrainian tech startups are now producing millions of drones annually, showcasing significant homegrown innovation despite ongoing Russian attacks.

Allied Support and European Contributions

• 🤝 European allies have shown strong support for Ukraine, often contributing more on a per capita basis than the United States.
• 🇩🇰 Denmark has provided advanced F-16s, Italy has supplied critical air defense systems, and Greece is aiding regional economic integration by supplying LNG to Ukraine.
• 🌍 These coordinated actions highlight the strong partnership between the US and its European allies in supporting Ukraine.

Russia's Brutal Tactics and Civilian Targeting

• 💔 Russia's war plan has deliberately targeted civilians, including women and children, with relentless aerial attacks, reminiscent of the 1940 London Blitz.
• 😭 Tragically, over 600 Ukrainian children have been killed by Russian strikes, with a photograph of three siblings from a single family serving as a stark reminder of the human cost.
• ⚠️ Reports indicate Russia has suffered up to a million casualties, yet Putin remains indifferent to the suffering of his own people and the violence inflicted on Ukraine.

Legislative Actions to Support Ukraine

• 🏛️ Senator Welch highlighted the importance of passing legislation to support Ukraine, including a bill led by Senators Graham and Blumenthal to impose sanctions on countries buying Russian oil.
• ⚖️ He also advocated for designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, citing the unconscionable kidnapping of over 20,000 Ukrainian children.
• 💰 A third key legislative proposal involves seizing approximately $300 billion in Russian assets held in the EU and $5 billion in the US for Ukraine's reconstruction.

Upholding International Principles and Security

• 🌍 Supporting Ukraine is framed not just as aiding a sovereign nation but as defending the principle that borders cannot be changed by force, a cornerstone of post-WWII global stability.
• 💰 The economic cost of supporting Ukraine is modest, representing about 0.21% of US GDP, a worthwhile investment for national and allied security.
• 🛡️ Failing to support Ukraine could embolden Russia to expand its aggression into neighboring countries, impacting the security of NATO allies.
• ✅ The Senate has an opportunity to recommit to this principle and protect the legacy of peace and prosperity established after World War II by standing firm with Ukraine.