U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Representative Mike Rogers, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, have released a joint statement regarding actions intended to push Russia toward peace negotiations in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
The statement notes that Ukraine has already agreed to former President Trump's proposal to start negotiations at the current line of control if an immediate ceasefire is enacted. However, the statement criticizes Russian President Vladimir Putin for what it describes as "delay tactics and empty promises," and asserts that Putin is not willing to end the ongoing conflict.
"Only coordinated, sustained pressure will convince the Kremlin that its maximalist aims and bid to control Ukraine are too costly," the statement says.
Senator Wicker and Representative Rogers express support for President Trump and Secretary Bessent following their announcement of new sanctions against Russia. They call for the United States to collaborate with allies to increase the impact of these sanctions, including stopping all imports of Russian energy, using frozen Russian sovereign assets in the United States and Europe for security assistance, and leveraging European funding to supply Tomahawk missiles in cooperation with the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The statement also urges Germany to support these efforts by sending Taurus missiles.
The joint statement concludes, "President Trump was right when he said this summer that to win, a nation must be able to go on offense. Equipping Ukraine with additional long-range systems and authorizing their use against key military targets in Russia would strengthen Ukraine’s position at the negotiating table and advance President Trump’s vision of a lasting peace."
