Untitled Document

[00:12:40] Thank you all. Everybody ready? [00:12:43] So, we're here today with a purpose and [00:12:46] a couple things I think need to be said. [00:12:48] Uh, and I'm sure all of us would express [00:12:50] it in our own way. Yesterday was a [00:12:53] tragic day for America. Charlie Kirk was [00:12:56] assassinated. Um, from a Republican [00:13:00] point of view, he was one of the leading [00:13:02] voices in the MAGA world. Uh, he [00:13:05] organized campuses to spread [00:13:07] conservatism. On our side of the aisle, [00:13:10] we we saw him as a great force. I think [00:13:14] Democrats, whether they agreed with him [00:13:16] or not, understand that this is not the [00:13:18] way you have discourse in the country. [00:13:21] And uh we're just here as a group to say [00:13:26] America cannot govern itself this way. [00:13:28] We all have to speak with one voice and [00:13:31] find the person who did this and bring [00:13:33] them to justice. Um secondly, this is [00:13:37] 911. [00:13:39] I remember where I was at 24 years ago. [00:13:43] >> I'm sure all of us do. I was up here [00:13:45] getting ready to go work. Uh I got a [00:13:48] call from my office, turn on the TV. saw [00:13:51] a plane going to the tower. I thought it [00:13:53] was a movie. Turned out not to be a [00:13:55] movie. So 24 years later, [00:13:59] uh we remember the victims of 9/11, but [00:14:02] I think we're losing the lessons of 9/11 [00:14:04] as a nation. 24 years later, Russia has [00:14:09] for the third second time invaded [00:14:12] Ukraine. In 2025, over a million people [00:14:15] have been wounded or killed uh in a [00:14:18] conflict in the heart of Europe on the [00:14:21] co uh European continent. So containing [00:14:24] the bad guys and standing up to them uh [00:14:27] is a lesson we've lost. Looking inward [00:14:30] is okay, but you also have to look [00:14:33] outside the country. The lessons of [00:14:35] 9/11, what goes on in Afghanistan [00:14:38] actually could matter to you. that when [00:14:41] they're blowing up a statue of Buddha in [00:14:43] Afghanistan, maybe as a Christian, [00:14:45] you're in harm's way here. So, I would [00:14:48] say that when one country wants to take [00:14:51] over another country um and exploit the [00:14:56] population, rape and murder the people, [00:14:59] uh defy international norms, you should [00:15:02] be concerned because it will matter to [00:15:04] us. So, in the 1990s, Ukraine gave up [00:15:08] 1,700 nuclear weapons with a promise [00:15:11] they would be their sovereignty would be [00:15:13] protected by Russia, the Brits, and the [00:15:15] United States. And along comes Putin. In [00:15:18] 2014, [00:15:20] he invades. In 2022, he invades. And [00:15:24] literally over a million people have [00:15:26] been killed or injured and millions have [00:15:28] been displaced. So, I would argue 24 [00:15:31] years later, we kind of let our guard [00:15:33] down uh when it comes to people like [00:15:37] Putin. So, what are we going to do [00:15:39] today? We're going to try to create [00:15:41] another front against Putin's Russia. [00:15:45] We're all united about making people who [00:15:47] buy cheap Russian oil, China, India, and [00:15:51] Brazil, buy it cheap [00:15:54] uh and prop up Putin's war machine to [00:15:57] think twice about doing it by going [00:15:59] after their economies. If you buy cheap [00:16:01] Russian oil to prop up Putin's war [00:16:04] machine, we're going to create a system [00:16:05] where you can be tariffed here. Pick [00:16:07] between our economy and cheap Russian [00:16:10] oil. So, we've brought a lot of [00:16:12] attention to that matter. But there's [00:16:14] another pressing issue that the world [00:16:17] has not talked enough about. Senator [00:16:20] Clolobachar uh was the earliest and [00:16:22] leading voice on behalf of the children. [00:16:25] Now, how did I know about this? Katie [00:16:28] told me that Amy's got a resolution [00:16:32] about 19,000 20,000 children that have [00:16:36] been kidnapped by the Russians from [00:16:39] Ukrainian families. I said, "Are you [00:16:41] sure about this?" [00:16:43] And yeah, Amy was right. Katie was right [00:16:48] to be concerned. This is 2025. [00:16:52] The Russians have invaded Ukraine and [00:16:56] they have kidnapped, we think, 19,546 [00:17:01] Ukrainian children [00:17:03] away from their families in Ukraine, [00:17:06] brought them to Russia in some form, and [00:17:08] the teenagers, they're training them to [00:17:10] fight their own country. What's the [00:17:13] right answer? Do something about it. [00:17:16] get off our ass as a world and make this [00:17:19] like unacceptable. [00:17:23] So there what four countries under US [00:17:27] law that have the designation of being a [00:17:30] state sponsor of terrorism. We're here [00:17:33] today say you need to add one more. So [00:17:37] this legislation, [00:17:40] if passed, would designate Russia as a [00:17:43] state sponsor of terrorism under US law [00:17:46] until they return the children. [00:17:49] If you want to vote no, we will make you [00:17:51] famous. [00:17:53] You need to vote. [00:17:55] Thun and Schumer need to bring this bill [00:17:58] up soon so we can tell Europe and the [00:18:01] rest of the world, follow our lead. What [00:18:05] does it matter to be state sponsor of [00:18:07] terrorism under US law? Your economy is [00:18:09] radioactive. [00:18:11] You do business with Russia at your own [00:18:13] peril. We have laws on the books that [00:18:16] punish state sponsor of terrorism. It's [00:18:19] hard to get on that list. Well, let me [00:18:22] tell you, Russia's earned the right to [00:18:24] be on this list. So, what we're going to [00:18:26] do is we're going to roll out our bill [00:18:29] today. We're going to ask leaders of [00:18:31] both parties to give us chance to debate [00:18:33] this and vote on it. And we want to put [00:18:36] in motion right now a process that would [00:18:40] lead quickly to Russia being a state [00:18:42] sponsor of terrorism, telling everybody [00:18:44] in the world who prop up who props up [00:18:47] Putin, you're running a foul of US law [00:18:50] and we're watching what you're doing and [00:18:51] you're going to pay a heavy price. It's [00:18:54] one thing to go after their oil sales. [00:18:56] We're doing that. But somebody needs to [00:18:58] speak up for the children. We're doing [00:19:01] that today. And we're going to have all [00:19:03] of our colleagues lend their voice to [00:19:05] our cause. And we're going to make [00:19:07] Russia under US law what they are. [00:19:11] Terrorists. [00:19:13] This is what terrorists do. They rape. [00:19:16] They murder. They kidnap. [00:19:18] So I'm looking forward to this debate. [00:19:20] As you can tell, I'm looking forward to [00:19:23] this vote. And if Russia doesn't want to [00:19:26] be a state sponsor of terrorism under US [00:19:29] law, return the children. Senator [00:19:31] Blumenthal. [00:19:32] >> Thank you. [00:19:33] >> Uh thank you, Senator Graham, as always [00:19:36] for your leadership. Senator Graham and [00:19:38] I have been to Ukraine eight times over [00:19:41] the last three years. We've been there [00:19:43] together. We've worked together on [00:19:46] various measures and uh we've seen some [00:19:50] of those kidnapped children. I want to [00:19:52] begin by saying that [00:19:57] political violence should be condemned [00:19:59] and stopped. No matter what your [00:20:01] politics, no matter where you are on the [00:20:03] political spectrum, violence has no [00:20:07] place in America and American political [00:20:12] discourse. [00:20:13] I think we can all agree that violence [00:20:17] ought to be solidly denounced, [00:20:20] condemned, and stopped in America. And [00:20:24] the spreading [00:20:26] frequency and severity of violence [00:20:29] should be sickening and shocking to all [00:20:31] Americans. No matter what your politics, [00:20:33] political violence has to stop. And [00:20:36] there is a through line from 911 to all [00:20:40] of the [00:20:42] political killings [00:20:45] to the terrorism that we're seeing in [00:20:48] Ukraine, which is violence. [00:20:51] The violent abduction of these children [00:20:55] is a crime against humanity. [00:20:58] Vladimir Putin is a war criminal. [00:21:03] Among the 20,000 children that he has [00:21:08] abducted and kidnapped is a 2-year-old [00:21:11] infant [00:21:12] who will never know her name. [00:21:16] She'll never know her parents or the [00:21:18] town where she was born. She's been [00:21:20] taken from them [00:21:24] and placed in another family [00:21:28] where she will be taught Russian, not [00:21:30] Ukrainian, [00:21:32] and she will be taught to hate [00:21:35] Ukraine [00:21:37] because Vladimir Putin believes that [00:21:38] there is no Ukraine. What he is seeking [00:21:42] to do by kidnapping these children is to [00:21:46] erase Ukraine from the face of the [00:21:50] earth. We've seen it before in Europe [00:21:54] and we've called the leaders who did it [00:21:58] war criminals and we've condemned some [00:22:01] of them to death. [00:22:04] Now, what we're doing here is calling [00:22:08] Russia what it is under Vladimir Putin's [00:22:10] leadership, which is a state sponsor of [00:22:14] terrorism. [00:22:16] And it will continue to be a state [00:22:18] sponsor of terrorism unless it returns [00:22:20] those children. [00:22:24] And new leadership in Russia can remove [00:22:28] it from that list. But for now, [00:22:32] we want to add it to that poster. In [00:22:36] fact, if somebody has a magic marker, [00:22:40] >> we can do it right now. That's what [00:22:42] we're we're doing. How do you spell [00:22:44] Russia? [00:22:47] >> All right, guys. [00:22:56] >> Thank you. [00:22:58] So [00:23:00] that's where Russia belongs, [00:23:03] that's the club, [00:23:06] that's the [00:23:08] group, [00:23:10] a state sponsor of terrorism. Now, I [00:23:13] know there are all kinds of practical [00:23:15] questions. What does it mean? What's the [00:23:16] impact? And the point here is [00:23:20] it [00:23:22] brands Russia for what it is in the eyes [00:23:27] of the world. [00:23:30] a member of this exclusive pariah club [00:23:37] that nobody wants to join [00:23:40] and condemns them [00:23:43] not only [00:23:45] for moral purposes but also economic [00:23:49] goals as well. So, uh, [00:23:58] I would just say this measure is no [00:24:00] substitute for our sanctions bill, which [00:24:04] is also bipartisan, 85 co-sponsors. [00:24:08] I call on the majority leader, to give [00:24:12] us a vote on the sanctions bill after [00:24:15] this incursion in Poland. [00:24:19] The time is now to show strength. [00:24:23] What we're watching right now in Europe [00:24:25] is a slow motion Munich. [00:24:29] Appeasement is not a strategy. [00:24:33] We need [00:24:35] scorching sanctions that will [00:24:38] Putin's economy by stopping the flow of [00:24:41] money from [00:24:43] India, China, Brazil, and others who are [00:24:46] buying Russian oil and gas. The best way [00:24:50] to bring Putin to the table and achieve [00:24:52] peace is to his economy. And [00:24:57] that's the goal of our sanctions bill [00:24:59] which we hope will actually inspire [00:25:02] President Trump to continue what he is [00:25:04] doing as he impose sanctions on India. [00:25:11] More action [00:25:13] is important now more important than [00:25:16] ever. But let me just uh close by saying [00:25:22] uh [00:25:24] there there really is a moral as well as [00:25:27] a political imperative here. The world [00:25:30] has to stand [00:25:32] for something bigger than just [00:25:36] military and economic might. [00:25:39] There is a moral imperative about the [00:25:42] abduction and kidnapping of children, [00:25:45] sending them to families where their [00:25:48] identities are erased [00:25:51] or re-education [00:25:53] institutions [00:25:55] where they are [00:25:59] remolded [00:26:00] as people. This kind of atrocity we [00:26:04] thought ended [00:26:07] decades, even centuries ago. [00:26:11] It is inhumane. [00:26:13] It is an atrocity and a war crime. And [00:26:17] the United States Congress should stand [00:26:19] up and call it what it is. And I am [00:26:23] really proud and grateful to be part of [00:26:25] this bipartisan group in raising this [00:26:28] issue. [00:26:29] >> Senator Clolobach. [00:26:30] >> All right. Uh thank you very much uh to [00:26:32] both of you. Thank you as well to [00:26:34] Senator Britt. Um I also uh like my [00:26:38] colleagues uh want to make very clear [00:26:40] that there is no place for this [00:26:42] political violence. Um and you think [00:26:44] about Charlie Kirk's wife today. You [00:26:48] think about those little babies that are [00:26:49] never going to know their dad growing [00:26:52] up. And I can't help but think about [00:26:54] what's happened in Minnesota this [00:26:56] summer. Same thing, right? a mad man [00:26:59] killing our former um speaker of the [00:27:02] house and her husband, gunning them down [00:27:04] in their house, killing um attempting to [00:27:08] kill another legislator. Eight bullets [00:27:09] through him, eight, nine bullets through [00:27:11] his wife. That all happened in our [00:27:13] state. And the next one, I'm going to [00:27:18] yet another funeral on Sunday of a [00:27:20] little 10-year-old girl named Harper [00:27:22] gunned down while that's they weren't [00:27:23] politicians. These were kids while they [00:27:25] were praying in mass. Fletcher's funeral [00:27:28] was last weekend. We were all there. [00:27:31] The manifesto was political. It was [00:27:34] allpurpose. The shooter was a allpurpose [00:27:36] hater against every side, every which [00:27:39] way. But that's what we're seeing right [00:27:41] now, and it has to end, and we have to [00:27:43] join together uh to condemn it. So, [00:27:46] we're here today on another atrocity, [00:27:49] and that is these Ukrainian kids. [00:27:52] etched in my memory forever will be the [00:27:55] trips that I took to Ukraine, one of [00:27:58] them with Senator Blumenthal, uh but [00:28:01] another with Senator Portman. Um the [00:28:04] burned out apartment buildings, the mass [00:28:06] graves, it just goes on and on and on. [00:28:10] And now you have nearly 20,000 kids. [00:28:13] It's one estimate. One is at 35,000 with [00:28:16] only 1,600 returned. And if you want to [00:28:20] know what terrorism about, it's [00:28:22] kidnapping kids. And one of the things [00:28:24] that we have made very clear is that [00:28:26] this is these kids must be returned [00:28:30] before there's any negotiation on the [00:28:32] war only because you can't start having [00:28:35] incentives for combatants in war to [00:28:38] capture and kidnapped kids. [00:28:42] These kids Lindsay mentioned the ones [00:28:45] that were being trained to um be part of [00:28:48] military in Russia. You also have kids [00:28:51] that parents desperate were told, "Well, [00:28:54] just come to a summer camp in Russia and [00:28:57] it'll be a way for them to take a break. [00:28:58] It'll be a safe place." And they never [00:29:01] come back. You have kids that were taken [00:29:04] either in the war zone or more likely in [00:29:07] a situation like this when they were so [00:29:09] young that they can't even remember [00:29:11] their Ukrainian language or the [00:29:13] Ukrainian culture. And the parents [00:29:15] aren't going to be able to identify them [00:29:18] because they were one-year-olds or [00:29:19] two-year-olds when they were taken and [00:29:21] now they've been there for two years, [00:29:24] three years. That's what's happening [00:29:26] right now. I did a meeting with um some [00:29:29] of the families, Ukrainian families in [00:29:32] Minnesota. And as one of the moms told [00:29:34] me, uh Arena when we met them, she's [00:29:37] talking about the one she met, a few [00:29:39] that came back, they didn't cry, they [00:29:41] didn't scream, they just stared, eyes [00:29:44] wide, eyes empty. So that is why I [00:29:48] support this bill, but it is also why [00:29:50] Senator Grassley and I came together on [00:29:52] our resolution. But there's something [00:29:55] another bill that's very [00:29:56] complementaryary to this right now that [00:29:58] we are working and I believe will get uh [00:30:00] included in the defense bill and that is [00:30:03] to make sure that we keep tracking that [00:30:06] we assist the Ukrainians in tracking [00:30:09] these kids and we appreciate the first [00:30:12] lady's involvement in writing a letter [00:30:14] to Vladimir Putin directly about these [00:30:17] kids. Um and we believe that this must [00:30:20] be bipartisan as we go forward. Senator [00:30:22] Graasley and I are hopeful uh that this [00:30:25] will complement this new bill um and [00:30:27] that is that we make sure that as a [00:30:29] nation we're continuing to track these [00:30:31] kids so that when this war ends or even [00:30:34] before it ends uh we will know who's out [00:30:36] there and as best as our ability where [00:30:39] they are so they can be reunited with [00:30:41] their families. [00:30:42] >> Thank you Katie. [00:30:43] >> Thank you. [00:30:47] >> Um Senator Clolobachar, thank you for [00:30:49] bringing this to light. and making sure [00:30:52] that we all um could focus in on it. And [00:30:55] Senator Graham, thank you for your [00:30:56] leadership on this and Senator [00:30:58] Blumenthal and bringing us here today. [00:31:00] Um before I start on the issue at hand, [00:31:02] I want to echo what you've heard from my [00:31:04] colleagues. Political violence has no [00:31:07] place in America. [00:31:11] What we saw yesterday, [00:31:14] and everyone saw it, [00:31:16] is sickening. [00:31:18] It is disgusting. [00:31:20] It was a political assassination. [00:31:23] And all of you sitting in these rows [00:31:26] have a duty and an obligation to call it [00:31:28] that. You know, when I'm thinking about [00:31:31] Charlie, obviously his faith was the [00:31:34] most important thing in his life. His [00:31:36] wife, his children, our prayers are with [00:31:39] them. But he influenced countless [00:31:42] Americans and people across the world. [00:31:45] My kids being amongst those groups. [00:31:48] talking with them last night, talking [00:31:50] through this with them last night is [00:31:52] just unthinkable that this is happening [00:31:55] in the United States of America. And so [00:31:57] the time for unity, the time for peace, [00:32:00] it is now. [00:32:03] I think back to when Senator Graham [00:32:05] talked about 911. I was in a college [00:32:08] class [00:32:10] um there in the business school, a [00:32:12] really large lecture hall and the [00:32:15] uncertainty of the events were startling [00:32:17] for everyone. People were getting [00:32:20] various news. I'm sure every one of you [00:32:22] remember exactly where you were and how [00:32:24] you handled it and the uncertainty of [00:32:26] the days ahead. [00:32:28] You know, I think about where we are [00:32:30] right now and what we're here to talk [00:32:32] about and they have covered this [00:32:34] beautifully. I want to focus on the [00:32:37] kids. [00:32:38] As a mom, I cannot even imagine what it [00:32:42] is like to have your child torn from [00:32:44] your arms. To know that they're [00:32:47] celebrating a birthday or that they had [00:32:49] a really bad day and have no one to love [00:32:52] them, to hug them, to talk them through [00:32:54] it. Knowing that there are m not only [00:32:57] milestones are missing but there are [00:32:58] moments where you want to create a [00:33:00] foundation for your child to be able to [00:33:02] stand tall to stand strong. You think [00:33:06] about the uncertainty that these [00:33:08] children are feeling torn from [00:33:11] everything they ever knew. [00:33:14] We have to speak loudly into this issue [00:33:18] not just today but every day. And the [00:33:21] truth is we need your help. We've got to [00:33:24] elevate this issue in order to be able [00:33:27] to bring these children home. And I call [00:33:30] on our European friends to stand taller. [00:33:36] We all need to be using every tool in [00:33:39] our toolbox to bring these babies, to [00:33:42] bring these children home. [00:33:45] It is clear [00:33:47] that Putin will never do the right thing [00:33:50] without being forced to. and now is time [00:33:53] to make that happen. So, thank you for [00:33:56] being here. Thank you for covering this. [00:33:59] Help us get these kids home. [00:34:03] >> Couple of questions. Yes, [00:34:04] >> ma'am. I know you talked to the [00:34:06] president yesterday. How the [00:34:07] conversation by my account, it's been [00:34:09] six months since you first started [00:34:11] talking about this bill. [00:34:14] >> Well, uh, this bill is I can't remember [00:34:17] how long we've talked about this one, [00:34:18] but this one's relatively new on [00:34:21] people's radar screen. That's why we [00:34:22] don't do the news conference. And back [00:34:24] to Amy, she's the one that brought this [00:34:26] to my attention. And you know, I think [00:34:29] what people understand what's going on [00:34:30] in Russia with these kids hopefully [00:34:33] tonight a firestorm. So I talked to him [00:34:35] about uh moving forward. Uh he's very [00:34:39] intent on making China pay for propping [00:34:42] up Putin. He's in discussions with [00:34:44] Europe. I talked to Ursula, the EU [00:34:47] commissioner, this morning. He's trying [00:34:49] to get Europe to do more, to follow our [00:34:51] lead. I've heard Europeans say, "Well, [00:34:54] the Chinese buy a lot of high-end [00:34:55] goods." Too bad. [00:34:58] We got to let that mentality go and put [00:35:01] China and India in a box to get Putin to [00:35:03] the table. So, he's talking to the [00:35:05] Europeans about things they can do to up [00:35:07] their game. I think he's got some pretty [00:35:11] u serious plans for China and I [00:35:14] encourage the president to um you know [00:35:17] that our bill would help him that our [00:35:19] bill would be Congress would be uh [00:35:22] basically giving him the authority to do [00:35:24] what he's doing which would help him in [00:35:26] court. [00:35:28] >> Senator, had this bill been in court a [00:35:31] month ago, would President Putin have [00:35:34] been allowed to set foot on American [00:35:37] soil in [00:35:39] You know, I I that's a good question. [00:35:42] Probably not. And let me just say this. [00:35:44] I don't care how we end the war as long [00:35:47] as we end it justly. The children come [00:35:50] home. There's no third invasion of [00:35:52] Ukraine. Uh you know, Ukraine's [00:35:55] independent and sovereign. So my point [00:35:58] is, we've tried the red carpet approach. [00:36:02] It ain't working. [00:36:04] There's more attacks today than there [00:36:07] were before. And this is just a reality. [00:36:10] Um, Poland, [00:36:13] eight drones or 19, whatever it is, [00:36:15] crosses into Polish airspace. This is on [00:36:18] the wrong trajectory. And what we're [00:36:20] trying to do today is create a tool that [00:36:23] will help President Trump in this war. [00:36:26] >> Yes, ma'am. [00:36:27] >> Hi. Um, two questions. One, if this bill [00:36:30] became law, would that mean that the US [00:36:32] couldn't import anything from Russia as [00:36:34] is the case for North Korea and Cuba. We [00:36:37] don't import a lot but we do still [00:36:39] import. [00:36:39] >> And there are some exceptions about [00:36:40] national security doesn't mean you can't [00:36:43] talk. We talked to the Iranians, you [00:36:45] know, during the negotiations. You can [00:36:48] be a state sponsor of terrorism. We [00:36:50] still talk to you. You know, Syria is a [00:36:52] state sponsor of terrorism. We're trying [00:36:53] to give them a way forward. So, it it [00:36:56] doesn't forlose dialogue, but what it [00:36:58] does, it labels you in a way hard for [00:37:00] you to grow your economy. I think we've [00:37:02] got a common theme here. We will make it [00:37:04] harder for Putin to fund this war. [00:37:07] >> And then on your sanctions bill, is the [00:37:10] leader willing to bring it forward for a [00:37:12] vote? [00:37:13] >> I'm I'm I I I'm going to talk to him [00:37:16] today about that based on my meeting at [00:37:18] the White House. Anybody else want to [00:37:20] say anything? [00:37:20] >> Yeah. [00:37:21] >> Brown, were you also considering adding [00:37:25] on this list? [00:37:26] >> Uh yeah, I was. Uh there's some [00:37:28] connection. Well, they just released [00:37:30] some hostages today and maybe there'll [00:37:33] be a breakthrough with Barus here. Well, [00:37:35] >> we haven't foreclosed. [00:37:36] >> We haven't foreclosed it, but we're [00:37:38] focusing on Russia today. [00:37:39] >> On that, what's your reaction to uh to [00:37:42] administration agreeing to lift? [00:37:44] >> Well, I'm glad the hostage is around. [00:37:46] I'll trust their judgment about how to [00:37:47] do that, but we're not we're not giving [00:37:51] Barus. We're still looking at them. [00:37:52] Yeah. [00:37:53] >> Thanks, Senator. Would this have any [00:37:55] significant military consequences for [00:37:57] Russia? And is that your intent? It has, [00:38:00] okay, it has significant economic [00:38:04] um consequences to Russia. Russia is the [00:38:07] most exposed enemy that we've probably [00:38:10] ever faced because they have a single [00:38:12] source of revenue, fossil fuels. Their [00:38:15] banking industry, you know, they they [00:38:17] they do other things, but this [00:38:19] designation makes it in very difficult [00:38:23] for you to do any above board business [00:38:26] with Russia. Um, we have S E Europeans [00:38:29] have sanctions on Russia. Clearly, [00:38:32] they're not getting him to the table, [00:38:34] right? Look at who's on this list. [00:38:38] Anybody want to go to Cuba, North Korea, [00:38:40] Syria, and set up business right now? [00:38:42] Probably not. By putting Russia in that [00:38:45] category, I think we're going to do a [00:38:48] lot to Putin's ability to [00:38:50] maintain this war. A a company that does [00:38:53] business with a state sponsor of [00:38:55] terrorism is going to have a lot of [00:38:57] explaining to do to consumers, to [00:39:01] suppliers, to everyone involved. [00:39:05] It it makes Russia a pariah state. [00:39:08] >> The other thing I want to add here is [00:39:10] that this has been practically done is [00:39:13] getting these kids back is not something [00:39:15] that's just like some distance [00:39:16] possibility. if they're really serious [00:39:19] about wanting to negotiate peace or come [00:39:22] back to the table again, this has got to [00:39:23] be happen as I said before an agreement [00:39:26] or we will be setting and the world will [00:39:28] be setting a horrible precedent. So the [00:39:31] idea here is it is a further incentive [00:39:33] to get this moving and to get these kids [00:39:36] back uh which we have to do anyway and [00:39:38] every single you know in their lives if [00:39:40] they're six years old every single month [00:39:43] right for them is like another year and [00:39:45] we're denying them being in their home [00:39:48] country their home culture their home [00:39:49] language so it is important to note that [00:39:52] this is tied to um getting the kids home [00:39:55] >> and I I will just mention um we spoke to [00:39:59] President Sinsky on our last trip about [00:40:01] this issue and I just left a meeting [00:40:04] with [00:40:06] Ukrainian [00:40:08] people who deal with veterans. This [00:40:10] issue is so profoundly important to [00:40:14] Ukraine people. [00:40:16] If you begin a conversation with [00:40:19] Ukrainians, [00:40:21] this issue is front and center for as [00:40:23] you would expect it would be. Imagine if [00:40:25] 20,000 American children were abducted [00:40:29] by Russia. The president of the United [00:40:31] States would be talking about it every [00:40:33] day. In fact, we would have gone to war. [00:40:37] These children are more than a number, [00:40:40] more than a statistic. They are [00:40:42] individual members of families of [00:40:46] Ukrainians. And so this measure we may [00:40:49] regard as symbolic, but for them it is [00:40:52] at the center of Ukraine's existence [00:40:54] because it is part of Putin's effort to [00:40:58] erase Ukraine from the face of the [00:41:01] earth. That's his goal here. [00:41:04] >> To make it Russian territory, [00:41:06] >> right? to eliminate Ukrainian language [00:41:10] and culture and religion and to abduct [00:41:13] children so that they can be [00:41:16] re-educated. And for Ukrainians, this [00:41:19] measure would be a major morale booster. [00:41:23] Two more [00:41:25] >> her than you. Okay. [00:41:30] >> Senator, you alluded to a slow motion. [00:41:34] What would you like European leaders to [00:41:36] do? What would be their message to them? [00:41:40] I support President Trump in asking [00:41:43] Europeans to do more, devote more of [00:41:46] their budgets to military aid for [00:41:51] Ukraine, buying American arms that can [00:41:55] be transferred to Ukraine, more F-16s, [00:41:58] longrange artillery, interceptors for [00:42:00] their Patriot missile systems, and yes, [00:42:03] more drones. But America also has to [00:42:07] step up with increased production [00:42:09] capacity so as to have the munitions and [00:42:12] artillery and other arms that can be [00:42:15] transferred to Ukraine. But I also want [00:42:20] to see European economic sanctions [00:42:23] coordinated with American economic [00:42:25] sanctions. [00:42:25] >> They have like a lot of sanctions Europe [00:42:28] has put on. They got 19 more. They're [00:42:30] looking at oil refineries. They're step [00:42:31] in the right direction. What I what do I [00:42:33] want the French to do? Tell China and [00:42:36] India, as long as you prop Put Putin up, [00:42:40] you can't have access to our economy the [00:42:44] way you used to. [00:42:46] Make Russ uh China and India have to [00:42:50] pick between the European economy and [00:42:53] the American economy and helping Putin [00:42:56] keep the war going. People tell me that [00:42:59] India is a prideful country. Well, they [00:43:01] got a lot to be proud about. This is not [00:43:03] one of their finest hours. [00:43:06] Before the war, India was buying 3% of [00:43:09] Russian oil. [00:43:11] It's close to 30%. They buy it dirt [00:43:15] cheap. They refine it in India and they [00:43:17] sell it to the Europeans. Stop buying [00:43:20] oil from India where India buys it cheap [00:43:24] from Russia. [00:43:26] Stop rewarding that behavior. As to [00:43:28] China, they have a big economy. We all [00:43:30] want to do business with China. This war [00:43:32] would end in 24 hours if she told Putin [00:43:35] to knock it off. They're the number one [00:43:37] customer of Russia when it comes to oil [00:43:40] and gas purchases. If your number one [00:43:42] customer says, "I can no longer do [00:43:45] business with you like I used to," then [00:43:47] we'll have a negotiation to end this [00:43:49] war. So, what can Europe do? What can [00:43:51] France do? Do to India what Trump has [00:43:55] done to India? Join us to hit China [00:43:57] hard. There is no way to my friends in [00:44:01] France to get this war to end without [00:44:04] suffering some. And what we're asking [00:44:06] for is economic disruption versus having [00:44:11] your children stolen from you and your [00:44:13] towns obliterated. So we need to go back [00:44:16] to that old mentality that allowed us [00:44:19] working together to beat the Nazis. [00:44:22] What whatever you had to do, you did in [00:44:25] World War II to beat the Nazis. That [00:44:27] mentality doesn't exist today. Russia is [00:44:31] a threat to the continent of Europe. [00:44:33] He's a terrorist by any definition and [00:44:36] those who prop him up should pay a heavy [00:44:38] price [00:44:39] >> demanding the return of Ukrainian [00:44:41] children before [00:44:43] it impies that President [00:44:49] >> I love what Senator Cloberchar said. If [00:44:53] you're really serious about changing who [00:44:54] you are, return the children. And if you [00:44:57] deny you had them, let's have a debate [00:45:00] in front of the world about who's right. [00:45:02] >> So, yeah. [00:45:03] >> And uh you know, the [00:45:06] >> the idea was that [00:45:10] we would demand a ceasefire. [00:45:12] Ceasefire accompanied with exchange of [00:45:15] prisoners and a return of the children. [00:45:18] >> Yeah, that's right. [00:45:19] >> And then peace negotiation. Yeah, I like [00:45:22] that. That is the plan and the path [00:45:26] toward peace. And it's realistic if [00:45:30] Putin really wants peace. But he's [00:45:32] showing every sign he wants continued [00:45:36] war. He is stonewalling and playing the [00:45:38] United States of America. And this [00:45:42] latest attack on Poland, I'm calling it [00:45:45] an attack because it couldn't have been [00:45:48] inadvertent. [00:45:50] And today there was testimony. I was [00:45:52] there in the armed services committee. I [00:45:54] asked the nominee for vice chairman of [00:45:57] the joint chiefs of staff. [00:46:00] Could this have been inadvertent? [00:46:03] And he was measured and cautious. But [00:46:06] basically he said [00:46:09] there's no way it could have been [00:46:11] inadvertent given Russia's military [00:46:14] capacity [00:46:16] for for 9 to 18 drones being sent over [00:46:19] Poland. No accident. Last one. [00:46:22] >> Senator, are you aware whether Milani [00:46:24] Trump's first lady is engaged on this [00:46:26] issue? [00:46:26] >> You know, uh I want to echo what was [00:46:29] said by her voice really mattered here. [00:46:32] I think she wrote that letter for a [00:46:34] reason. And I don't want to put words in [00:46:35] her mouth, but our first lady brought [00:46:38] attention to not particularly this [00:46:40] issue, but the plight of children that [00:46:42] allowed us to have a stronger platform. [00:46:46] Um, but yes, I think her focus and [00:46:48] attention to what's happening to [00:46:50] children um really did matter and I want [00:46:53] to applaud her for that. And here's my [00:46:55] challenge to Russia. If you don't think [00:46:58] we're right, tell us why. go to the [00:47:01] media and say it's not 19,536. [00:47:06] Give a answer to the accusation. [00:47:11] >> Uh is this a binding or a non-binding [00:47:13] resolution? I know you guys pass a [00:47:15] similar measure. [00:47:16] >> Well, you know th this resolution [00:47:19] is urging the secretary of state but we [00:47:21] also do the designation. I think when it [00:47:24] passes that it will that problem will be [00:47:27] solved that Marco when he sees you know [00:47:30] 90 90 votes they will do it. Uh but the [00:47:34] resolution is designed to make them [00:47:36] under US law. [00:47:37] >> Just to to clarify the the bill says the [00:47:41] secretary of the state [00:47:43] >> must must designate shall designate [00:47:45] Russia as a state sponsored terrorism [00:47:48] within 60 days. [00:47:49] >> Yeah. [00:47:50] >> Unless he finds that the children have [00:47:52] been returned. Yeah. [00:47:53] >> And then he can take the designation [00:47:55] away. [00:47:56] >> Yeah. [00:47:57] >> If he finds later that they have been [00:48:00] returned. [00:48:00] >> And it's all about the children. Thank [00:48:02] you.