Hagerty Statement on Russia's War Against the Sovereign State of Ukraine

Statement

United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, today released the following statement after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war and launched a full-scale invasion against Ukraine:

"Ukraine and its people are now under attack. The Russian dictator has brought war to the European continent. President Biden's strategy to prevent this invasion has failed. Despite Ukrainian President Zelensky's persistent call for pre-invasion sanctions, the Biden Administration chose to do nothing until it was too late and must now change course. I'm calling on President Biden to immediately demonstrate American strength by moving to reclaim our energy independence, secure our own borders, put in place safeguards to protect our critical infrastructure, impose decisive economic and financial hardship on Putin's regime, work with our Allies and partners, including NATO, to boost Ukraine's capability to defend itself, and strengthen NATO's own defensive capabilities. President Biden must recognize the gravity and severity of this moment and do everything in his power to protect the safety and security of the American people."

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