U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Representative Mike Rogers, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, released a joint statement regarding the proposed peace plan between Russia and Ukraine.
“We applaud President Trump’s current effort to help bring a peaceful end to the fighting in Ukraine. But we must all be mindful that Vladimir Putin is a brutal war criminal with a record of flagrantly violating international agreements.
“For any agreement to secure a truly lasting peace, it must ensure Ukraine has a robust military, include iron-clad security guarantees, and reinforce NATO’s deterrence and defense posture.
“As negotiations on a peace plan continue, it is imperative that its terms are reasonably balanced. Both Ukraine and our NATO allies must be full participants in its design and invested in its outcome.
“However, if this week Russia fails to agree to a reasonable, balanced, and enforceable peace agreement, we urge Congress to promptly pass the Russian sanctions bill and send it to the President for his immediate signature and implementation.”
The statement comes as discussions over ending hostilities between Russia and Ukraine remain ongoing. The chairmen emphasized the importance of security guarantees for Ukraine and called for continued involvement from NATO allies. They also warned that failure by Russia to accept an enforceable agreement would lead them to support new sanctions legislation.
