Support for the Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, and Economic Stability of Ukraine -- Motion to Proceed

Floor Speech

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Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I wish to say through the Chair it was an honor to join my colleague Senator McCain in a whirlwind trip to Ukraine: 48 hours, maybe 6 extra to spare; 2 full days of working, meeting every leader at every level of government there and sensing their concern over the pending so-called referendum on Crimea and what Russia will do next. The Senator from Arizona and I stand together in a bipartisan fashion, urging the passage of this resolution as quickly as possible.

I just left the phone--the reason I came to the floor, I say to the Senator from Arizona, I was on the phone with the Ambassador of Ukraine and we were talking about the situation there, and I said: Senator McCain is on the floor and I would like to go down and say a word.

He said the people of Ukraine are watching what we are doing. They are watching what Congress and the United States are going to do.

There are some differences between us. There are some differences between the parties. There comes a moment--and there always has, at least in the past--where we decide we are going to stand together as a nation, particularly when it comes to issues of foreign policy. This resolution doesn't address every issue the Senator from Arizona has raised, but it certainly addresses some key issues on which the Senator and I both agree. We both voted for this in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and we both want to see this move. The sooner the better.

I wish to salute my colleague, the Senator from Arizona, for returning to the Maidan, that area in Kiev where 103 Ukrainians lost their lives demonstrating against the former government and asking for change. Our experience together, visiting that country with a delegation of eight Senators, I hope sent a strong message: There is bipartisan support for Ukraine and we will not tolerate Putin's aggression at the expense of innocent people.

Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to engage in a colloquy with the Senator from Illinois.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. McCAIN. I ask my friend: Isn't it true the people of Ukraine are watching in a way that is hard for them to understand--before an empty Chamber. But, more importantly, whether we act and act quickly, that signal to them as they face this additional Russian aggression, maybe not military aggression but already borders have been closed, the price of their energy has been raised--in other words, Putin is putting more and more pressure on them. They look to us. Isn't it a fact they will not quite understand if we go another several days because of some additional issue that does not affect whether we are coming to their assistance, I ask my friend.

Mr. DURBIN. Through the Chair, I couldn't agree more. I think it is significant that when the new Prime Minister of Ukraine was scheduling his first trip outside of the country, where did he come? Here, Washington, DC. With whom did he meet? The President and the leaders. We sat together with him in a room downstairs--the Senate Foreign Relations Committee room. He came here because he wanted to bring the message to us of what he feared would happen if Putin's aggression went forward, and he wanted us to bring the message to the world that the United States stood by him. How can we possibly explain to these people who are worried about the existence and survival of their Nation that we got tied up in some political squabble between the House and the Senate and the two political parties? It is important for us to move and move quickly.

The Senator from Arizona understands this as well or better than most. Many of us have come from countries which were once under the yoke of the Soviets and we remember full well what it took to finally get independence and democracy. Today, Vladimir Putin is fighting to save a failing Soviet franchise, and where he can't win the hearts and minds of neighboring nations, he instead uses masked gunmen, troops, barbed wire, and energy extortion. That is how he works. He is not winning this battle, but he is saying to the world: The only way I can keep my ``friends'' in line is with pressure. So the United States, and I hope other civilized nations, will join us in saying that is unacceptable.

I thank the Senator and I agree with him. Now is the time to act in the Senate.

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