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Ranking Member Shaheen Statement on President Trump’s Meeting with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on President Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House:

“I’m glad that President Trump met with President Zelenskyy and expressed frustration with Putin’s aggression, but words alone won’t stop the bombs from falling. President Zelenskyy cannot leave Washington empty-handed as Putin escalates brutal attacks on civilians and Ukraine’s energy grid ahead of winter.

“President Trump must use the tools Congress has already provided to increase pressure on Putin and strengthen Ukraine’s defenses. That means imposing tougher sanctions on Russia and providing Ukraine with additional military assistance and long-range missiles to defend itself. Leader Thune and the overwhelming majority of the Senate are ready to act on crippling sanctions against the Kremlin’s war machine if the President finally stops blocking us.

“The world is watching to see whether President Trump will finally back his rhetoric with action to hold Putin accountable and help bring this war to an end.”

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