Dear Friends of Ukraine,
The recent report issued by the Biden Administration regarding waivers for NordStream2 entities and individuals has drawn major attention from friends of Ukraine on Capitol Hill. In particular, the co-chairs of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus; the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Sens. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Jim Risch (R-ID), respectively; and, Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, have issued statements strongly urging the Administration to reconsider its decision regarding the waivers. Below please find copies of the above-mentioned statements.
To further raise the profile of the NordStream2 pipeline sanctions, the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS) urges you to contact your elected officials (Senators and Representatives) and request they issue statements or contact the Administration expressing their disapproval of the waivers. Below (and attached) please find an Action Item and sample letter for your convenience. Your communication with your elected officials will denote the importance and urgency to stop the completion of the political pipeline.
Congressional Ukraine Caucus Urges President Biden to Reconsider Decision to Waive Sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and Putin Crony CEO
Washington, D.C. — Today, the Congressional Ukraine Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Andy Harris (R-MD), Mike Quigley (D-IL), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), released the following statement in response to President Biden’s decision to waive sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its CEO, Putin crony Matthias Warnig.
“As co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus, we agree with the Biden Administration sanctioning several Russian vessels and entities for their participation in the Nord Stream 2 Russian malign influence project,” the Members said in a joint statement. “We are also grateful for Secretary Blinken’s recent trip to Kyiv where he stressed robust U.S. support for Ukraine and the importance of Ukraine’s democratic progression and security.”
“We agree with the Administration that Nord Stream 2 is a bad deal for Europe. Yet, we are deeply concerned that the Administration has invoked the U.S. national interest waiver under PEESCA to waive sanctions against Gazprom subsidiary Nord Stream 2 AG and its CEO, Matthias Warnig, a Putin crony and former Stasi goon.
“We firmly believe it is in the U.S. national interest to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty to protect Europe’s eastern flank from Russian aggression. It is in the U.S. national interest to limit Russia’s malign influence and energy coercion in Europe. It is in the U.S. national interest to stop the spread of strategic corruption by malign actors in Europe to protect the integrity of democratic institutions and the transatlantic relationship.
“While we appreciate the Administration’s efforts to maintain relations with our close ally Germany as a nation also facing Russian malign influence, it cannot be at the expense of transatlantic and Ukrainian security as that nation faces down Russia’s continued aggression and the deaths of over 14,000 innocents. The waiving of the sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG is against both U.S. national and transatlantic security interests, and also undermines the growing movement in Germany to end Nord Stream 2. We strongly urge the Administration to reconsider its position.”
On May 13, 2021, the Congressional Ukraine Caucus sent a letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken urging the sanctioning of all entities involved in the Nord Stream 2 Russian malign influence project including Nord Stream 2 AG pursuant to PEESCA and strong bipartisan Congressional intent. The full letter can be found here.
Chairman Menendez Statement on State Department’s Nord Stream 2 Report
WASHINGTON – Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee issued the following statement after Congress received a mandatory report from the State Department regarding entities involved in sanctionable activity by the builders of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Citing U.S. national security interests, the Biden Administration announced it would waive mandatory sanctions on the company Nord Stream 2 AG and its CEO Matthias Warnig.
“I am opposed to the decision by the Biden Administration to waive sanctions on NS2 AG and Matthias Warnig. I urge the administration to rip off the Band-Aid, lift these waivers and move forward with the congressionally mandated sanctions. The administration has said that the pipeline is a bad idea and that it is a Russian malign influence project. I share that sentiment, but fail to see how today’s decision will advance U.S. efforts to counter Russian aggression in Europe.
“If the administration maintains these waivers, I have several questions. First, what does the administration now expect from Germany after having made this significant concession to exercise the waiver? Will Berlin strengthen its support for Ukraine in the Normandy Format? Will it provide additional assistance to Kyiv in its struggle against Russian aggression? Also, what will the administration do to bolster our relationship with Ukraine?
“This decision has created uncertainty in many corners of Europe and I expect to hear very soon from the administration on its plans moving forward. I believe President Biden should do everything possible to accomplish what the Trump administration failed to do for four years: stop the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline for good.”
RISCH: BIDEN AND BLINKEN ARE HANDING PUTIN A GIFT WITH NS2 WAIVERS
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the State Department’s impending report on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, as mandated by the Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Act:
“The administration has finally acknowledged what we’ve known all along – the entities sanctioned in today’s Nord Stream 2 report have been engaged in sanctionable activities for months. This determination took longer than it should have.
“The administration’s decision to waive the sanctions they placed on Nord Stream 2 AG and the company’s CEO Matthias Warnig citing U.S. national interests is just wrong. The administration seems to be suggesting it is somehow in the United States’ best interest to allow this Russian malign influence project to be completed.
“This move contradicts everything that President Biden and Secretary Blinken have previously said about Nord Stream 2’s malign influence, and is a gift to Putin that will only weaken the United States’ leverage in the lead up to the impending Biden-Putin summit. The administration is prioritizing perceived German and Russian interests over those of our allies in Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe.
“The president is the person with the statutory authority to issue these waivers, and thus he will own the responsibility for allowing this project to be completed. The administration should fix today’s mistake before it’s too late.
“It is deeply disturbing that this administration canceled the Keystone XL Pipeline on its first day, killing thousands of U.S. and Canadian jobs. Yet, it continues to support Russian workers involved in a project that goes against U.S. and European security interests.”
Portman Opposes the Biden Administration’s Decision Not to Impose Congressionally-
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European and Regional Security Cooperation, issued the following statement after Congress received the mandatory report from the State Department concerning sanctionable activities by builders of the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline. The Biden administration has announced that it will cite U.S. national security interests and waive congressionally-imposed sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 AG holding company and its CEO, Mattias Warnig.
“I am opposed to the Biden administration’s decision to waive the congressionally-mandated sanctions against Nord Stream 2 AG. This choice is contrary to our national interests, and at an especially volatile period, helps Russia while hurting Ukraine and our European Union allies.
“There is clear and convincing evidence that Nord Stream 2 AG and CEO Mattias Warnig are committing sanctionable acts and should be subject to these sanctions under U.S. law. In addition, the State Department is on record saying that the Biden administration believes the pipeline is a bad idea, will hurt Europe, and is against our U.S. national interests. I, and my bipartisan colleagues in Congress, see this project for what it really is — an attempt by Russia to gain control over its European neighbors through the region’s energy supply.
“At a time when President Putin continues to place unremitting military, political, and economic pressure on Ukraine, we need to stand with our ally and follow our own laws — which call for sanctions, not waivers. The Biden administration must explain how they will offset the negative strategic impacts of this policy to ensure security of our European partners and allies. It is clear from this decision that it is time to support a NATO Membership Action Plan for Ukraine.”
In addition, for more information, also attached please find a statement from the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) about the NordStream2 waivers.
Should you have any questions or comments, please contact the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS) at: unis.sawkiw@gmail.com.