U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement today regarding energy and Ukraine:
“Russia continues escalating attacks on Ukraine’s civilians and energy infrastructure. The lessons for us are clear. The Biden Administration and Ukraine’s friends across the globe must be quicker and more proactive to get Ukraine the aid they need. And Washington Democrats must stop their war against our own American energy security and independence.
“It is in America’s core national security interest to make it clear that revisionist states such as Russia or China cannot simply gobble up smaller neighbors. The Biden Administration and our allies need to do more to supply the tools Ukraine needs to thwart Russian aggression. It is obvious this must include additional air defenses, long-range fires, and humanitarian and economic support to help this war-torn country endure the coming winter.
“I welcome and applaud those of our allies and partners who have also committed assistance to Ukraine. More of them need to step up to the plate. For our part, the United States Congress has funded and approved ongoing aid on an overwhelming bipartisan basis. It is not enough for the Biden Administration to slowly, eventually get around to providing it. It must be expedited.
“A Republican majority in the Senate will focus its oversight on ensuring timely delivery of needed weapons and greater allied assistance to Ukraine, rebuilding and modernizing our military capabilities, standing up to terrorist states like Iran, and shoring up our defenses in Asia to deter Chinese aggression.
“Finally, Putin uses energy as another weapon for bending sovereign countries to his will. It is unacceptable that President Biden is draining our Strategic Petroleum Reserve simply to boost Democrats’ low approval ratings before an election. Draining the Reserve to the lowest point in decades and strangling our own domestic energy production capacity will make America more vulnerable to disruptions and manipulation of global energy markets. Democrats are risking national security to try to cover up their own failed energy policies.
“Neither American families’ pocketbooks nor our national security can afford Democrats’ Green New Deal follies or their war against our own energy.”
