WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and more than 30 other Republican senators in introducing the Never Yielding Europe’s Territory (NYET) Act to provide critical support for Ukraine’s self-defense and to deter Russian aggression, imposing costs on Russia for its ongoing and potential future aggression against Ukraine.  

“What you allow is what will continue, and Russia’s thuggery must end now. This bill would help Ukraine defend itself and punish Putin and his oligarchs for Moscow’s rogue aggression towards Ukraine,” said Kennedy.

“While a ‘military’ invasion has not yet occurred, there are other ways Russia can attack Ukraine that would be debilitating for Ukrainians and European security more generally. 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 economic and military costs on Russia, strengthens U.S. allies and partners, and supports Ukraine via new authorities, funds, and tools,” said Risch.

The NYET Act, among other measures, would:

• Sanction Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
• Sanction Putin’s allies and major Russian banks.
• Provide $500 million in Foreign Military Financing for Ukraine, including $100 million for emergency lethal assistance for critical capabilities like air defense, anti-armor and anti-ship capabilities.
• Create a Ukraine Resistance Fund to help Ukraine resist attempts to occupy or subjugate any new territory Russia may seize.
• Double funding for U.S. military exercises in Europe.
• Create a new State Department Foreign Military Financing program for Eastern Europe to help European allies strengthen their own defensive capabilities and incentivize greater burden-sharing. 

Text of the NYET Act is available here.