US politicians react to Russia declaring 'special military operation' in Ukraine
Sen. Mitt Romney said the invasion was without 'provocation' or 'honor'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}U.S. politicians on both sides of the aisle late Wednesday condemned Russia's "unprovoked" attack of Ukraine after news broke that Vladimir Putin had declared a "special military operation" in Ukraine and explosions could be heard in the capital city of Kyiv and other parts of the country.
"The prayers of the world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces," President Biden said in a White House statement. "President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering."
Demonstrators hold placards and flags as they attend a protest outside the Russian Embassy, in London, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. Ukraine urged its citizens to leave Russia as Europe braced for further confrontation Wednesday after Russia's leader received authorization to use military force outside his country and the West responded with a raft of sanctions. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Republican Utah Sen. Mitt Romney said it was the "first time in 80 years that a great power has moved to conquer a sovereign nation." He said the invasion was without "justification, provocation and without honor."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He blamed "tepid" responses to Russia's annexation of Crimea and the "naïve" reset during the Obama administration and Trump’s "America First" policy.
"History shows that a tyrant’s appetite for conquest is never satiated," he said, adding that America and its allies must "protect freedom by subjecting Putin and Russia to the harshest economic penalties, by expelling them from global institutions, and by committing ourselves to the expansion and modernization of our national defense."
President Joe Biden at Camp David, Maryland, Feb. 12, 2022. (The White House via AP, File)
PUTIN DECLARES ‘SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION’ IN UKRAINE: LIVE UPDATES
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee said the "USA stands with Ukraine" in a tweet.
"We pray for the people of Ukraine as they defend against Putin’s attempt to rebuild the old Soviet Union," she added. "Biden must stand up to Putin and immediately levy severe sanctions against Russia — starting with removal from the SWIFT banking system."
Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio wrote Ukrainians are "tough people who will NEVER accept being ruled by #Putin. Men,women,children,the elderly,they are going to fight And they are going to maim & kill alot of Russians."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sen. Marco Rubio walks to a briefing with the Senate Intelligence Committee at the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 16, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Rubio posted multiple tweets about Ukraine Wednesday night, later adding, "To clarify what is underway is a full scale & comprehensive military assault throughout #Ukraine."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tweeted that an "attack on Ukraine is an attack on democracy." She said she "applauded" Biden for his "forceful leadership in imposing the first tranche of swift & severe sanctions to counter Russian aggression. The U.S. & our allies stand together in our unwavering support of the Ukrainian people."
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said "Putin’s decision to invade is an evil, panicked move of weakness and will be his defining mistake," adding that Ukrainians will fight "for as long as it takes to secure their nation from this foreign tyrant, and the United States will stand with them in this fight."
Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican, said her prayers were with the Ukrainian people.
"I first traveled to Ukraine in 1989 as a college student, celebrated when they voted for independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, & served alongside Ukrainians in the Global War on Terror."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Ukraine wants freedom; the world must stand with them."
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina echoed "our prayers are with Ukraine."
"Imperative that we continue to provide Ukraine with defensive weapons as well as good intelligence," he tweeted, and that the world needs to "condemn Putin’s destruction of a neighboring democracy as a war crime."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"God be with the people of Ukraine," Republican Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar tweeted.
Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois tweeted Putin’s "invasion of Ukraine’s sovereign land is a dire threat to the established international order and must be resolutely deterred."
He added, "Ukraine and our NATO allies facing ongoing Russian belligerence have strong bipartisan, bicameral support in the U.S. Congress. As someone who has strong ties to the region, my prayers are with the Ukrainian people and all of Eastern Europe."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, however, tweeted the "war and suffering could have easily been avoided if Biden Admin/NATO had simply acknowledged Russia’s legitimate security concerns regarding Ukraine’s becoming a member of NATO, which would mean US/NATO forces right on Russia’s border."
Rubio later called that argument "simply not true."
"A pledge that #Ukraine would never join NATO was not Putin’s only demand," he wrote. "As recently as last week he once again demanded NATO leave every country that joined after 1997 including Bulgaria, Romania & 12 others."