“The White House and Kremlin seek to rewrite the history of this war with falsehood and slander…. We need to do more than say something. We need to do something.”
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) spoke in support of a measure he co-sponsored calling out the United States’ vote in the United Nations against a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“What was in it that was so objectionable to split the U.S. from its friends?,” said Senator Schiff on the Senate floor. “The resolution made clear that Russia started this war. It reaffirmed the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine … It called for an end to the war and a just and lasting peace and the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian lands. None of this is in dispute. None.”
The resolution, backed by Schiff and offered by Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), was blocked from consideration in the Senate today by Senate Republicans.
“This was the resolution that the United States, the leader of the free world, blocked at the United Nations. Can any member of this body point to a single problematic word in the resolution? Of course not. The Senate should stand by this resolution, just as we should stand by Ukraine,” Schiff concluded.
The resolution can be found here.
Watch the Senator’s remarks here. Download remarks here.
Read a transcript of his remarks below:
I urge you to beware of the temptation of labeling both sides equally at fault. The temptation to ignore the facts of history and the aggressive impulses of an evil empire.
My colleagues, these are not my words. They are, of course, the words of Ronald Reagan almost 42 years ago to the day.
Imagine if he could see his party now turning its back on our ally and fellow democracy, Ukraine.
Sponsoring a UN resolution that would whitewash the start of the war. Engaging the most immoral equivalents and failing to assign responsibility to Russia for its invasion and ruthless aggression. Voting with Russia and North Korea against our longtime friends and allies in Europe and around the world. Abandoning and insulting our allies as Putin seeks to remake the map of Europe.
And what is this resolution in the United States about that we help defeat?
The U.S. has used its influence and its vetoes in the Security Council many times. But this resolution was offered by dozens of our close allies on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
What was in it that was so objectionable to split the US from its friends?
The resolution made clear that Russia started this war. It reaffirmed the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.
It deplored Russian aggression on women and children. It raised concerns with North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces. It noted the threat to nuclear safety.
It called for an end to the war and a just and lasting peace and the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian lands.
None of this is in dispute. None.
This was the resolution that the U.S., the leader of the free world, blocked at the United Nations. Can any member of this body point to a single problematic word in that resolution?
Of course not.
The Senate should stand by that resolution, even as we must stand by Ukraine.
Today, the White House and Kremlin seek to rewrite the history of this war with falsehood and slander, calling Zelenskyy the dictator, Ukraine the instigator, and Putin the hero.
We need to do more than say something. We need to do something.
Slava Ukraini.
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