Rep. Gregory Meeks on Why the U.S. Should Stand with Ukraine

Mr. Speaker, the question before this House is simple. Will we help Ukraine negotiate from a position of strength, or will we help Putin outlast American resolve? The Ukrainian people, our NATO allies, and the United States national security cannot afford to wait any longer for this body to act against Russia's brutal war in Ukraine. In the last 17 months, Russia has redoubled its efforts to break Ukraine's spirit while waging its illegal war, and this body has failed to meet the moment. So let me be clear. The administration could be doing more right now, without waiting for Congress. President Trump promised to end the war on day one. Seventeen months later, this administration has stalled the delivery of assistance that Congress has passed. It has attacked Ukraine, the victim, while providing cover for Putin, who continues to stall, delay, and outlast U.S. support. We all want this war to end. The question is, how? Will we abandon Ukraine and force it into a terrible deal? That is what Vladimir Putin is counting on. Or will this body live up to the commitments we've made since the start of this war, that we will support the brave Ukrainians fighting for their future, deliver them the weapons that they need to defend themselves, impose costs on the Kremlin for this immoral conflict, and hold Russia accountable for its war crimes? This war ends when Putin concludes that prolonged conflict will cost Russia more than ending it. That means proving through action, not words, that the United States and our allies will not walk away. And that is exactly what this bill aims to do. It supports Ukraine's reconstruction, fights Russian malign influence, shores up security assistance for our Baltic allies, and provides Ukraine urgently needed foreign military financing loans to purchase the weapons it needs to defend itself against and push back Russian aggression. And let me remind my colleagues, nearly every dollar we invest in Ukraine's security assistance is spent where? Right here, in these United States of America, supporting American workers, supporting American manufacturers, and supporting American communities. Mr. Speaker, this is not one of those conflicts where there's a gray area. Vladimir Putin is an authoritarian thug who ordered the invasion of Ukraine for his own imperialistic ambitions. He has ordered the kidnapping of Ukrainian children and the murder of innocent civilians. And as the United States support has wavered, the carnage has only grown. 2025 was the deadliest year for Ukrainian civilians since the war began. In the largest land war since World War II, we've seen over a million casualties that Putin chose. And if you believe his ambitions will end with Ukraine, you've not been paying attention at all. History and Putin have told us otherwise. Some colleagues have raised parts of this bill that could be improved as justification for voting against it. Mr. Speaker, this bill should have gone through regular order, but unfortunately, my request to move Russia bills through regular order have been routinely rejected. Republican leadership has opposed this bill and repeatedly blocked bipartisan efforts to hold Russia accountable. The Ukraine Support Act was introduced some 14 months ago, and we have forced it to the floor by discharge only because that was the only option left to us. Now, before I finish, I just have some people that I really need to thank. For 14 months, our Majority Leader Emeritus Steny Hoyer, he has been absolutely tremendous working and getting this bill to this point today. You know, he used to be the whip also. He's no longer the whip, but he hasn't lost those whip skills on how to whip people and get them together, because that's what he has done. And I've got to say thank you, and I've got to say no, that his commitment to the Ukrainian people and to our allies is unwavering and unshakable. Thank you, Steny Hoyer. Let me also thank Representative Keating and Kaptur, and so many other Democrats who have worked tirelessly and been instrumental in this process. And finally, I must thank Representatives Bacon, Fitzpatrick, and Kiley for courageously signing the discharge petition. This indeed has been a team effort and something that the Ukrainian people know that in a bipartisan way we support them in what we would do. So Mr. Speaker, it's time for us to do what's right. Support Ukraine. Hold Russia accountable. Show the world and show Putin that the United States does not fold to bullies. Putin's belief that bipartisan U.S. support will fade is as much a fantasy as he believes that he could take Kiev in a week. That is how we end this war, and I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.