WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), co-chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group, issued the following statement on the Russian military buildup on Ukraine border following a bipartisan classified briefing given to senators: 

“Today’s briefing was deeply concerning. Vladimir Putin is giving every indication that he plans to invade Ukraine. As co-chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group, we stand with our NATO allies in strongly condemning any Russian threat on Ukraine’s sovereignty. Any act of escalation or aggression by Russia toward Ukraine threatens the international rules-based system, whereby Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected. As co-chairs, we robustly refute Putin’s redline which rejects Ukraine’s aspirations for NATO membership and aims to coerce Ukrainian internal affairs. Ukraine is a sovereign country with the right to determine its own path. The future of Ukraine is for the Ukrainian people to decide – not Putin. Make no mistake that any attack on a European partner will be met with a strong and robust  response against Putin and his regime, including severe economic sanctions. The Senate NATO Observer Group stands by our Ukrainian friends and calls on our NATO friends to do the same. We will continue to work with the administration, our fellow senators, and NATO partners to do everything we can to protect democracy in Europe.” 

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