Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor on the heinous crimes committed by Vladimir Putin in his unprovoked, unjustified invasion of Ukraine. An estimated 2.8 million Ukrainians—almost all of them women, children, and seniors—have fled to other nations, carrying only a few possessions.
Durbin also discussed a meeting he held last week with the Senate Democratic Caucus and European Ambassadors. During the meeting, the Senators and Ambassadors reiterated their unified support for Ukraine. They also discussed areas for additional sanctions, humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine, and managing the Russian threat to NATO members.
“When they [Russia] bomb maternity hospitals, I felt they reached the lowest possible point,” said Durbin. “But over the weekend, Vladimir Putin intensified his illegal, unprovoked war on Ukraine, shelling apartment buildings, hospitals, schools, creating an obscene body of evidence that Vladimir Putin should be charged and convicted of the worst possible war crimes.”
Durbin also called out Fox News host Tucker Carlson for his coverage of Putin and this unprovoked, unjustified war.
“That’s why I had to hesitate for a moment and say when I hear apologists for Putin in America, I wonder who they are and what they’re made of. Tucker Carlson is one that even the Russians are recommending that their friends in the media listen to, making excuses on Fox for Vladimir Putin. There are no excuses. None acceptable on the subject. Mr. Carlson should be ashamed of himself. It is impossible to know how many innocent civilians have already died in Ukraine. Estimates range from hundreds to thousands. An estimated 2.8 million Ukrainians, almost all of them women, children, and the elderly have fled in the bitter cold to other nations, carrying one or two suitcases and a backpack and a baby on their side. Millions more Ukrainian citizens are displaced inside Ukraine. We can’t even count that number. And multitudes are trapped in places like Mariupol and other cities under siege by Russia. Many of them are without food and water and medicine and electricity,” Durbin continued.
“I believe that this is not simply a war on Ukraine. It’s a war on democracy. It’s a war on civilization,” Durbin concluded.
Last week, the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus appropriations bill. The $1.5 trillion package provides $13.6 billion in humanitarian, military, and economic support for Ukraine. Within that amount, $6 billion is provided in State and USAID humanitarian assistance; $100 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Peace aid for Ukraine; $6.5 billion in Defense spending; and $19 million for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to support targeted sanctions measures.
On Wednesday, all Members of the House and Senate are invited to attend a Virtual Address to the United States Congress delivered by President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
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