WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) joined 31 of his Senate Republican colleagues in introducing the Never Yielding Europe’s Territory (NYET) Act to provide the critical support Ukraine needs to defend itself and deter Russian aggression today, while imposing real costs on the Kremlin for its ongoing and potential future aggression against Ukraine.
“As the situation in Ukraine continues to escalate with little hope that the Russians will work towards a peaceful resolution, this legislation makes clearthat the United States will not tolerate Russian aggression against Ukraine,” said Blunt. “This legislation will hit Vladimir Putin and his cronies with crippling economic sanctions and provide much needed support to help Ukraine bolster its defenses as it faces the ongoing threat of invasion.”
“While a ‘military’ invasion has not yet occurred, there are other ways Russia can attack Ukraine that would be debilitating for Ukrainians and European securitymore generally,” said U.S. Senator Jim Risch (Idaho). “Rather than simply restating authorities the president already has, the NYET Act takes immediate action to permanently stop Nord Stream 2, sends a powerful deterrent message, imposes heavy economicand military costs on Russia, strengthens U.S. allies and partners, and supports Ukraine via new authorities, funds, and tools.”
The legislation was introduced by Risch. In addition to Blunt, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Pat Toomey (Pa.), Jim Inhofe (Okla.), Ted Cruz (Texas),Marco Rubio (Fla.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Rob Portman (Ohio), John Barrasso (Wyo.), Thom Tillis (N.C.), Roger Wicker (Miss.), James Lankford (Okla.), Susan Collins (Maine), Kevin Cramer (N.D.), Todd Young (Ind.), Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), Joni Ernst (Iowa),Bill Cassidy (La.), John Cornyn (Texas), Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), John Kennedy (La.), John Boozman (Ark.), Deb Fischer (Neb.), Mike Crapo (Idaho), Mitt Romney (Utah), Ron Johnson (Wis.), Roger Marshall (Kan.), Cynthia Lummis (Wyo.), Tommy Tuberville (Ala.),Richard Burr (N.C.), Dan Sullivan (Alaska), and John Thune (S.D.).
The NYET Act:
Imposes real costs on Russia:
- Immediately stops construction of the Nord Stream 2 project and would mandate sanctions on the project without a waiver should Russia invade. Prior to an invasion, the billsuspends sanctions for as long as the German government continues to suspend the certification process.
- Sends a clear deterrent message to Putin that an invasion of Ukraine will result in massive economic consequences to Russia’s economy, including:
- Sanctions on major Russian banks; and
- Secondary sanctions on banks that continue business with sanctioned Russian banks.
- Sanctions Putin’s cronies, enablers, and major banks before Russia further invades Ukraine to ensure Putin pays a price now for hybrid attacks already launched.
- Allows any chairman or ranking member of a national security committee to force a determination from the president on whether Russia’s aggression against Ukraine constitutes a major escalation and fulfills conditions to trigger sanctions.
Supports Ukraine before, during, and after a Russian escalation:
- Provides $500 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for Ukraine, including $250 million in emergency funding, with $100 million for emergency lethal assistance for criticalcapabilities like air defense, anti-armor, and anti-ship capabilities.
- Creates a new Ukraine Resistance Fund to help Ukraine resist attempts to occupy or subjugate any new territory Russia seizes, while sending a clear message to Putin that hismilitary will pay a price for advances into sovereign Ukrainian territory.
- Authorizes a new Lend-Lease authority for Ukraine.
- Expedites congressional review of arms sales and security assistance to Ukraine.
Counters Russian malign influence and aggression throughout Europe:
- Doubles funding for U.S. military exercises in Europe.
- Creates a new State Department FMF program for Eastern Europe to help European allies strengthen their own defensive capabilities and incentivize greater burden-sharing.
- Boosts funding for State Department efforts to counter Russian disinformation, including the Global Engagement Center, and expands broadcasting by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Text of the NYET Act can be found here.