not just a regional war. it is the most visible demonstration of the larger existential threat russia poses to our national security. we support ukraine to ensure that vladimir putin cannot achieve his goals, which are counter to our own national interests. we must be clear-eyed about this. if putin succeeds in ukraine, it will be the first piece in his long-stated promise to re-create the soviet empire. if that happens, if we fail to learn from history and to see brutal and craven authoritarians for what they are, and the threat they represent, we may again find american sons and daughters sent overseas to fight on foreign shores. i urge my republican colleagues, and my democratic colleagues, all my colleagues, to speak up and stand with ukraine, as they

have done so for many years, let us continue. with that, mr. president, i would mr. gallego: about one month before the war broke out, i traveled to ukraine with a bipartisan coalition of house representatives to meet with ukrainian soldiers. those soldiers we met knew they were up against the strongest military in the world, but they refused to back down when this came to fighting for their families, their freedom and their future. these soldiers are the reason why, against all odds, ukraine still stands strong. over three years, the scrappy little country of ukraine has grinded down. they are doing it with our

support. of but monday's vote at the u.n. undermined that and was a betrayal of ukraine america's allies, democracy, and everything we can stood for as a long. -- as a country. let's be clear on this. this is a war that russia started. ukraine did not ask for it. they did not ask to go to war with a nuclear superpower, and they did not ask for their cities to be reduced to rubble. they didn't ask for their children to be displaced and families to be torn apart. if ukraine had its way, this war would have ended years ago. what happened at the u.n. puts us on the same side as russia and north korea. that's not just embarrassing, it is dangerous. it sent a message to our allies and every other country that relies on the u.s. to stand up to bullies and defend them and help them defend themselves,

that america cannot be relied on to call out unprovoked aggression. it told them that they are on their own, that america's words mean nothing. if we can't stand up against these criminals, if we can't stand up against pariah states like russia, how can we expect the world to take us seriously as leaders of democracy? so this is why i'm introducing this resolution. i urge my colleagues to correct the mistake we made at the u.n. this week. stand with r our allies and condemn russia's invasion of ukraine. america does not stand with dictators and we never will and we shall never. with that, i ask for consent and vote on my resolution. a senator: mr. president. was there a unanimous consent request? the presiding officer: no, there wasn't.

mr. gallego: i ask unanimous consent -- mr. paul: mr. president, what was the consent request? the presiding officer: can the senator repeat the request, please. mr. gallego: i withhold my request. the presiding officer: the senator from california is recognized. mr. schiff: i urge you to beware the temptation of holding both sides equally at fault. the presiding officer: the time has expired, senator. mr. schiff: may i have consent to speak for two minutes? the presiding officer: is there objection? objection is heard. the clerk will report the motion to invoke cloture. a senator: i object. mr. paul: if we could be done in two minutes. the presiding officer: senator ernst, you objected. withdrawn. the senator from california is recognized for two minutes. mr. schiff: i thank my colleagues for their courtesy to

speak on this resolution. i urge you to beware of the temptation of labeling both sides equally at fault. the temptation to ignore the facts of history and aggressive impulses of an evil colleagues. my colleagues, these are the words of ronald reagan almost 42 years ago to the day. imagine if you could see his party -- if he could see his party now turning its back on ukraine. sponsoring a u.n. resolution that would whitewash the start of the war evan gauging the most immoral equilavents and failing to assign responsibility to russia for its ruthless aggression. voting with russia and north korea against our long time 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 helped defeat? the u.s. has used its influence

and 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 u.s. 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 noted the threat to nuclear safety. it called for an end to the war and a just and lasting peace and withdrawal of russian forces from ukranian 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