NH’s Shaheen Speaks in Support of Ukraine on Senate Floor

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen continued to show her support for Ukraine with a speech on the Senate floor Monday night against a potential Russian military invasion of the country. The speech came following a White House briefing about ongoing discussions.

The Biden Administration is discussing the threat of economic sanctions it can implement without congressional approval if President Vladmir Putin were to invade.

Both Democrats and Republicans offered support for Ukraine but did not vote on a resolution during the session.  Shaheen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke about not allowing Russia to dictate the future of Ukraine, Europe, and the expansion of NATO membership.

"Hopefully he will choose a path that is going to be good," Shaheen said. "In the long run this will not be good for Russia, for their energy future, because Europe is going to get off Russian energy a lot faster if Russia invades Ukraine."

Shaheen expressed the hope that Putin would pick a diplomatic path to solve his issues with Urkaine but that if he doesn't, the U.S. would continue to defend the world order that's been in place for 70 years.

"It's our job, the Trans-Atlantic Alliance, those of us here in Congress, to hold Putin accountable if he makes the wrong choice, to make sure we put in crippling sanctions (and) that we provide the assistance that Ukraine needs in fighting Russia," Shaheen said.

Visited Ukraine in January

Shaheen was part of a Senate delegation that visited with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials in January to reaffirm the U.S.’ commitment to Ukraine.

The group made it clear that the U.S. is united across party lines against Putin's plan to target the U.S.'s Eastern European partners, according to Shaheen.