Cotton Statement on Congressional Delegation Trip to Ukraine and Slovakia

Press Release

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) returned Sunday from a trip to Ukraine and Slovakia led by Senator John McCain (R-Arizona), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

In Ukraine, the delegation observed the Russian invasion first-hand during a visit to Eastern Command and a tour of the Dnipro-1 Territorial Defense Battalion. They met with soldiers who had recently returned from fighting, toured an NGO raising funds to support the Ukrainian troops, and received other briefings on Russian actions toward Ukraine and the situation on the ground.

While in Slovakia, the delegation met with key officials and attended the GLOBSEC Security Forum where they participated in a panel entitled "U.S. Foreign Policy: Still a European Power?"

"I appreciated the opportunity to attend the GLOBSEC Security Forum and visit Ukraine. I can now say with even more certainty that we must give Ukraine the assistance it needs to fight back against Russian aggression," said Senator Cotton. "Vladimir Putin has been offered multiple off-ramps to deescalate the conflict in Ukraine, but has continued his campaign. Off-ramps aren't working and it's time to start building roadblocks by providing Ukraine with both defensive weapons and non-lethal aid. But it doesn't end with Ukraine. Russia also poses a significant threat to our other European allies and it's imperative that we support the NATO alliance as they stand against Putin."

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