Russia

Floor Speech

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Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, now on a completely different matter, last year, on a broad and a bipartisan basis, Congress passed sanctions that were designed to block Russia from completing its Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. The Biden administration recently waived those sanctions to allow the pipeline to move forward. Now it appears the administration has cut a deal with Germany that will allow the pipeline to become operational.

The initial press reporting about this deal does not inspire confidence that this administration is taking the Russian threat as seriously as it should, nor does it indicate that we are standing with our Ukrainian partners, who are struggling to defend themselves against Moscow's aggression. The administration appears to have ignored the broader implications of the Nord Stream 2 project and Russia's approach to Europe writ large

Green energy initiatives or promises of diplomatic meetings will not address the real risks Moscow poses--not even close. Just a couple of years ago, Washington Democrats were absolutely melting down over their belief that the prior administration was being too soft on Russia and leaving Ukraine in the lurch. Where is the outrage today?

For several years there, my colleagues across the aisle sounded like big-time Russia hawks, so I hope they will now join Republicans in pressing the administration to explain this curious decision, to explain how President Biden intends to impose meaningful costs on Moscow for all its misdeeds at the same time they have America greasing the skids--greasing the skids--for this Putin pipeline.

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