Report Launch Event: Join MEI tomorrow for an in-person, in-depth discussion with authors of "The Middle East Beyond the Iran War": @gonultol, @JasonHCampbell, and Ross Harrison (@georgetownprof). Moderated by @HelloLauraKelly of The Hill. Register: mei.edu/events/mei-report-la…

I will be speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his team this week to discuss Starshield, sanctions, and other matters pertaining to the defense of our strong ally, Ukraine. I will be assuring President Zelenskyy that anyone who attempts to limit the use of Starshield for Ukraine will be fully investigated and will be held fully accountable, to include public congressional oversight hearings, and immediate harsh and punitive budget cuts to any responsible agency or agency head. Congress will unequivocally reaffirm that Ukraine is an indispensable ally to the United States, that Russia is a self-declared enemy of the United States, and that the United States will 100% support and defend the people of Ukraine in their fight for their own freedom against this brutal, illegal, and unprovoked Russian invasion. The United States must provide any and all defensive equipment that Ukraine needs to defend itself. The United States must not import a single drop of Russian oil. Sanctions against the Russian regime must be harsher and stronger than they’ve ever been before. Each and every one of these items will be brought to the House Floor—and each and every one of these items will pass on the House Floor by an overwhelming margin. This is, after all, what Ronald Reagan would do. And this is what we will do now. Ukraine can, and will, defeat Russia. #PeaceThroughStrength

When President Trump welcomed Putin onto American soil for peace talks, Putin responded less than two weeks later with a massive bombardment of Kyiv that killed more than 20 civilians. When President Trump pressured Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russia, Putin turned around and provided Iran with intelligence to help target American servicemembers. And when President Trump secured his diesel deal with Putin, the Kremlin responded by continuing to strike Ukraine’s energy infrastructure — despite the president’s calls for an energy ceasefire. Just last week, Russian forces also bombed buses full of innocent civilians, killing more than 30 people, in violation of international law. Time and again, we have seen how Putin responds to American concessions: with contempt for the United States and increased violence against innocent Ukrainians. Lindsey Graham understood this dynamic. That's why he and I spent his final years fighting to give the president the tools to put maximum pressure on Putin and bring him to the negotiating table. I urge the president to reverse course, use these sanctions, and return to the time-tested principle that lasting peace is secured through strength — not accommodation.