Peter Welch: “the United States must continue to support the people of Ukraine as they continue to defend their country from Russia's…”

“the United States must continue to support the people of Ukraine as they continue to defend their country from Russia's invasion. The support provided by the United States has been indispensable in thwarting Russia's advances, but Ukraine needs continued assurances today--and tomorrow--that this support will continue. There will be policy shifts in the next Congress and with the next administration, but we can't abandon our fundamental support for Ukraine. Doing so would be existential for the Ukrainian people, dangerous for Europe, and dangerous for the United States. Allowing a large country to invade its smaller, neighboring country with impunity clears a path for authoritarian leaders with similar aspirations, and it sends the message that these actions are acceptable. Left unchecked, these violent actions threaten America's partners and allies. We are at an inflection point. The President-elect has praised Vladimir Putin, the man waging an unjust war against Ukraine, for being a strong leader. He called him a ``genius'' and ``savvy'' and said: I got along with him great. He liked me. I liked him. I struggle to find common ground or agreement with someone who gets along with one of America's most ruthless adversaries. But I hope we can all agree that America's security is inseparable from the security of Europe.…”