Source: United States Senator for Wyoming John Barrasso
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) joined the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and a majority of Republican senators in introducing the Never Yielding Europe’s Territory (NYET) Act. The bill provides the critical support Ukraine needs to defend itself and deter Russian aggression today, while imposing real costs on the Kremlin for its ongoing and potential future aggression against Ukraine.
NYET also includes a key provision from Barrasso’s ESCAPE Act that expedites the export of American natural gas to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies.
“The best way to deter Russia from invading Ukraine is to impose biting sanctions now, not after an invasion,” said Barrasso. “Since the Biden administration refuses to take immediate action, Senate Republicans have stepped up with a bill that will make Putin think twice. It cancels the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, places tough economic sanctions on Russia and expedites American energy exports to our allies. We also make sure Ukraine has the lethal military equipment they need to defend themselves against Russian aggression. Ukraine cannot afford to wait and our bill gives them the help they desperately need now.”
The NYET Act:
Imposes real costs on Russia:
- Immediately stops construction of the Nord Stream 2 project and would mandate sanctions on the project without a waiver should Russia invade. Prior to an invasion, the bill suspends sanctions for as long as the German government continues to suspend the certification process.
- Sends a clear deterrent message to Putin that an invasion of Ukraine will result in massive economic consequences to Russia’s economy, including:
- Sanctions on major Russian banks; and
- Secondary sanctions on banks that continue business with sanctioned Russian banks.
- Sanctions Putin’s cronies, enablers, and major banks before Russia further invades Ukraine to ensure Putin pays a price now for hybrid attacks already launched.
- Allows any chairman or ranking member of a national security committee to force a determination from the president on whether Russia’s aggression against Ukraine constitutes a major escalation and fulfills conditions to trigger sanctions.
Supports Ukraine before, during, and after a Russian escalation:
- Provides $500 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for Ukraine, including $250 million in emergency funding, with $100 million for emergency lethal assistance for critical capabilities like air defense, anti-armor, and anti-ship capabilities.
- Creates a new Ukraine Resistance Fund to help Ukraine resist attempts to occupy or subjugate any new territory Russia seizes, while sending a clear message to Putin that his military will pay a price for advances into sovereign Ukrainian territory.
- Authorizes a new Lend-Lease authority for Ukraine.
- Expedites congressional review of arms sales and security assistance to Ukraine.
Counters Russian malign influence and aggression throughout Europe:
- Requires the Secretary of Energy to expedite approvals of natural gas exports to NATO allies and Japan; and any other foreign country where exports of natural gas to that country would promote the national security interests of the United States.
- Doubles funding for U.S. military exercises in Europe.
- Creates a new State Department FMF program for Eastern Europe to help European allies strengthen their own defensive capabilities and incentivize greater burden-sharing.
- Boosts funding for State Department efforts to counter Russian disinformation, including the Global Engagement Center, and expands broadcasting by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Text of the NYET Act can be found here.
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