Mike Turner Statement on Obama’s Remarks at UN General Assembly

I was very pleased to hear President Obama’s strong condemnation of Russian aggression in Ukraine at the UN General Assembly today.

As Putin continues to pursue an expansionist and dangerously adventuresome worldview, these remarks come at a critical moment.

Last week, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko appeared before a joint session of Congress to request increased aid to Ukraine, including bolstering its military capabilities.

In his remarks, Poroshenko stated that,"'in Ukraine, you don’t have to build a democracy. It already exists. You just defend it." 

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle were supportive of Poroshenko’s request, and I hope that today’s statements from the President indicate that he too believes the time is now to provide the Ukrainians with the intelligence and the equipment necessary to protect and defend their democracy.

On March 26, 2014, I sent a letter directly to Secretary Hagel, requesting that the Department of Defense immediately provide the Ukrainian government a detailed military assessment of Russian action and strategic military advice.

On April 8, 2014, I introduced the Forging Peace through Strength in Ukraine and the Transatlantic Alliance Act that recognized the Russian reality, condemned Russian aggression, strengthened NATO and our Allies, and provided strategic military advice to Ukraine.