Hoyer Remarks at Ukraine Caucus News Conference Marking 3 Years Since Russia Launched Illegal War and Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) joined Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05), and Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, and Members of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus for a news conference in the U.S. Capitol to mark three years since Russia launched their illegal war and full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Below is a transcript of his remarks:
“I want to thank Chair Kaptur, Chair Wilson, and Chair Quigley for setting this event. I don't think they knew how timely it was. Today is the day of sadness and infamy for America. Why do I say that? There was a resolution on the floor of the United Nations backed by the European Union and Ukraine that approved and backed the Ukrainian resolution that recognized the territorial integrity and the legal status of Ukraine.
“The United States of America, one of our presidents, as has been quoted by Mr. Quigley said, ‘We would pay any price, bear any burden to defend freedom.’ On that resolution today, the U.S. voted no. Who were our compatriots in voting no? Russia. Belarus. North Korea. Hungary. Sudan. And which country abstained because even they could not stomach? China.
"Last week the anchor of the largest show on Russian state media said gleefully, ‘We wanted to saw the Western world into pieces, but Trump decided to saw it through himself. Trump is now doing our job’ - ‘our’ being Russia - ‘Our job for us.’ That's what this administration is doing. And shamefully, inexplicably, America sided with a nation - Russia - that has committed war crimes by invading - with no justification - Ukraine. And I pray, Joe, I pray that is not the position of the Congress of the United States.
“J.D. Vance did Russia's job for it at the Munich Conference when he ridiculed our European allies instead of the Russian dictator threatening. And Donald Trump continued to do Russia's job for it by bringing Vladimir Putin out of isolation, by cutting Ukraine out of negotiations and by parroting Russian propaganda, including the blatant lie, the incredible lie, the unbelievable lie that Ukraine started this war three years ago. Vladimir Putin started this war three years ago with his criminal surprise invasion. Vladimir Putin is the craven dictator, not Volodymyr Zelenskyy. We must never forget that this war began with Russians taking tanks across Ukrainian borders, Russian missiles falling on Ukrainian cities, Russian soldiers butchering Ukrainian civilians, and Russians thugs abducting Ukrainian children. Russia and Russia alone started this war.
“But America will determine its end, I pray. We will determine who emerges victorious: Putin, fascism, the Axis of Evil, or Ukraine, democracy, and the free world. Instead of doing Russia's job for it, as we did today, we must deal Russia a definitive strategic defeat. One that serves as a clear warning to all who would break international law and commit war crimes.
"I urge my colleagues, I urge my colleagues: if you love freedom, if you love democracy, if you honor alliances, I urge my colleagues to reject any retreat from ensuring Ukrainian victory. Another leader, Neville Chamberlain, tried to calm the savage beast by ceding the Sudetenland to Germany. He exulted in peace in our time, the beast was not saved.”