Blumenthal Travels to Ukraine

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after traveling to Ukraine with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH). The Congressional Delegation met with President Zelenskyy following the Senate passage of the national security supplemental, which would provide Ukraine with needed weapons and ammunition.

“Ukraine is at a life or death moment. On my fifth trip to Ukraine—since the start of Russia’s savage, murderous invasion two years ago—I heard from President Zelenskyy that his lines will break and Putin will conquer his country, unless the U.S. provides arms and ammunition. The facts on the ground here are starkly, staggeringly clear: With American support, Ukraine can win. Without it, Ukraine is sure to lose,” Blumenthal said.

“The national security supplemental passed by the Senate must be approved by the House for Ukraine to survive, and prevail. The supplemental provides the tools Ukraine needs most urgently, as Zelenskyy told us: air defense, anti-mine systems, long-range artillery, and more.”

“Ukrainians are bleeding and dying—many because they lack enough ammunition, Zelenskyy says. If we allow them to fail, America will be obligated to fight Russia—using our troops, as required by NATO pact commitments and our own national security. Pay now, or pay much more later; that’s the message to Speaker Johnson. Lead or get out of the way.”

“Speaker Johnson should visit Ukraine. He should hear and see, as we have, the resolve resilience of the Ukrainian people, the reasons our support is so urgently necessary, and the catastrophic consequences of our failing or faltering. Zelenskyy told us he’d be happy to host him.”

“The supplemental will pass by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the House, as it did in the Senate, if it’s simply given a vote.”

“It’s an essential investment in deterrence. The world is watching—especially adversaries like China & Iran—to see whether we are immobilized by doubt, division, and dysfunction.”

“Sanctions are key to the strategy—as President Zelenskyy stressed—more effective enforcement of existing measures and new ones. He’s ready and willing to help my Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in exposing how American parts & components reach Russian weapons manufacturers.”

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