Congress must block any attempt to welcome Vladimir Putin onto U.S. soil for the G20 or any other summit. Russia is actively helping Iran target American military personnel. CNN confirmed that Russian spy satellites provided targeting data used in the March 27 attack on Prince Sultan Air Base. Putin is not a partner. He is an adversary killing Americans by proxy.
The Budapest Memorandum was a promise. When Ukraine surrendered its nuclear weapons in 1994, the United States guaranteed its security. Russia has shredded that agreement, and Trump is now floating business deals with Moscow as a substitute for peace — deals that, according to a classified European intelligence report will likely personally enrich administration officials. Meanwhile, the DOJ just indicted five Russian intelligence operatives for running a murder-for-hire network on U.S. soil. This is who Trump wants at the table.
Congress passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act on September 16. That matters. But sanctions mean nothing if the President simultaneously rehabilitates Putin diplomatically.
Use every tool available including more legislation, hearings, public pressure, to make clear that Russia's return to international legitimacy requires one thing first: all troops out of Ukraine, and the bombing stopped. You and the rest of Congress have to act in the best interest of US security and alliances where the White House won't.
First sent on September 28 by Karla
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