Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Senator from Alaska urges continued U.S. support for Ukraine
Loading...
Summary
On the Senate floor a senator from Alaska urged lawmakers to sustain military, intelligence and humanitarian support for Ukraine, calling the conflict a global test of democratic resolve and warning against appeasement of Russia.
A senator from Alaska used floor time to urge continued U.S. support for Ukraine, arguing that the conflict is ‘‘not just a regional conflict’’ but a global test of democratic resolve and U.S. credibility.
The senator said the war in Ukraine has lasted ‘‘more than 3 years’’ and pointed to diplomatic talks in Saudi Arabia between U.S. and Ukrainian officials as a promising development toward a possible ceasefire and restoration of military and intelligence cooperation. He said the Ukrainian people are ‘‘not asking us to fight their war’’ but instead seek ‘‘the arms, the ammunition, the logistical support’’ and intelligence ‘‘that can be provided through satellite imaging’’ so they can defend themselves.
Why it matters: The senator framed sustained assistance as tied to U.S. national security and alliances, saying that retreating would signal weakness to adversaries and risk dividing NATO. ‘‘If it is seen that we are walking away from Ukraine, if we embrace appeasement, we embolden every aggressor around the globe,’’ he said.
The senator highlighted humanitarian and community aspects of U.S. involvement, noting that communities in Alaska and New Hampshire have welcomed Ukrainian families who fled the conflict and that U.S. assistance has provided ‘‘lifelines’’ such as weapons, radar and drones that have helped prevent Kyiv from falling.
He also cited a 2005 statement attributed to Vladimir Putin about the collapse of the Soviet Union to argue that Russian ambitions have long been declared and that history warns against trusting promises that might let Moscow ‘‘rewrite the rules.’’ Addressing a local security perspective, the senator noted Alaska’s proximity to Russia — citing the two Diomede islands as about two miles apart — and referenced increased Russian and Chinese military activity near U.S. waters as a reason for particular concern.
The senator acknowledged calls to focus on domestic priorities and concerns about the war’s cost, but said the issue is ‘‘bigger than that’’ and presented a choice about whether democracies will stand together. He concluded by urging support for Ukraine and warning that a peace that favors Russia would likely be temporary before yielding the floor.
The remarks were delivered on the Senate floor and did not include any formal motions or votes.
