WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, offered virtual remarks for a Brookings Institution online event about next steps in the Ukraine negotiations and need for increased pressure on Russia to end the war.
“With negotiations happening between Russia and Ukraine, this moment is critical,” said Ranking Member Shaheen. “We need to maximize pressure on Putin, now. That means new sanctions, like those in the Graham-Blumenthal legislation. That bill has 82 co-sponsors and shows broad, bipartisan support for Ukraine in the Senate. It’s one of the best tools we have to finally bring Putin to the negotiating table.”
“I hope President Trump realizes that giving into Putin is not the right path forward,” she continued. “The Ukrainian people are not giving in. Their recent strike, carried out by Ukrainian Security Services, took out a third of Russia’s strategic nuclear bomber fleet. It wasn’t just a military blow; it was a blow to Putin’s propaganda that Russia has been winning. Let’s be clear: Russia is not winning. This is an important point not only to our allies but also to our adversaries. China, Iran, North Korea – they're all watching what’s happening in Ukraine.”
The Ranking Member’s remarks, as delivered, are below. You can watch Senator Shaheen’s full remarks at the Brookings Institution event HERE.
Hello, I’m Senator Jeanne Shaheen. Thank you to the Brookings Institution for organizing this important conversation. With negotiations happening between Russia and Ukraine, this moment is critical. We need to maximize pressure on Putin, now. That means new sanctions, like those in the Graham-Blumenthal legislation. That bill has 82 co-sponsors and shows broad, bipartisan support for Ukraine in the Senate. It’s one of the best tools we have to finally bring Putin to the negotiating table.
But pressure doesn’t just come from new measures, it also means enforcing the sanctions already in place. Which is why clear, consistent messaging from the State and Treasury Departments and the White House is absolutely critical. Of course, sanctions are not the only way to maintain Ukrainian independence – NATO membership is one, continued U.S. assistance to Kyiv is another. People ask, “how long should the U.S. support Ukraine?” My answer is simple: as long as Russia is abducting Ukrainian children, as long as they’re bombing civilians, Congress should continue passing supplemental aid.
This war has been absolutely brutal for Ukraine. That’s why, in principle, I support President Trump’s stated goal of ending it – whether that happens in one day or 100 days or sometime down the road. I hope President Trump realizes that giving into Putin is not the right path forward. The Ukrainian people are not giving in. Their recent strike, carried out by Ukrainian Security Services, took out a third of Russia’s strategic nuclear bomber fleet. It wasn’t just a military blow, it was a blow to Putin’s propaganda that Russia has been winning. Let’s be clear: Russia is not winning. This is an important point not only to our allies but also to our adversaries. China, Iran, North Korea – they're all watching what’s happening in Ukraine. They’re making calculations based on how the United States responds.
So, to everyone at Brookings and those watching online today, let’s remember that Ukrainians are not just fighting for their own freedom, Ukrainians are defending the security of democratic nations around the world – including the United States. That’s why we need to keep backing Ukraine and keep the pressure on Putin. Thank you all.
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