On the recordFebruary 12, 2024
Madam President, the vote we will soon take to provide military weapons for Ukraine is the most important vote we will ever take as U.S. Senators. We are not being asked to send American troops into war. We are asked to help the Ukrainians defend themselves. If we fail to help Ukraine, Putin will invade a NATO nation. He may delay his next invasion until he rebuilds his decimated military, but we must be clear-eyed. Ukraine is not the end; it is a step. If we fail to help Ukraine, China will eventually absorb Taiwan. If we fail to help Ukraine, we will abandon our word and our commitment, providing to our friends a view that America cannot be trusted. The Chinese Communist Party is already spreading propaganda, using our delay as a warning to Taiwan that the United States will not be there to help in the face of China's threat. If we fail to help Ukraine, NATO, the alliance that has prevented great power conflict for over 75 years, will falter and eventually disintegrate. If we fail to help Ukraine, America will cease to be the arsenal of democracy. It will cease to be the leader of the free world. We will be replaced by the authoritarians: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. If we fail to help Ukraine, we will be known not as our fathers and mothers were, the ``greatest generation,'' but as the worst generation. Now, for months, I have listened to the arguments for denying help to the Ukrainian people. I have observed that the reasons have evolved over time.…
Source
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