Senator Richard Blumenthal

Unimaginable agony & anxiety—Putin’s intensified bloodthirsty bombardment of Ukraine reflect desperation. He’s losing on the battlefield, his economy is declining, his casualties are mounting. His go-to tactic is terror. His calling card is death & destruction.

I saw firsthand the courage & fortitude of Ukraine’s people as I was hustled down stairs into concrete walled bomb shelters just days ago during my visit to Kyiv & Odesa—my tenth in the last four years. Repeatedly, at all hours, day & night.

Putin’s escalating cruelty & inhumanity are beyond words. Last night alone—656 drones & 73 missiles—aimed at civilian targets, like apartment buildings & malls, energy facilities & hospitals, which I saw during my visit. Ukraine has miraculously advanced drone technology, but needs air defense.

America must step up. Ukraine will win if we give them the means to finish to job. Air defense against Russia’s aerial reign of terror, sanctions against buyers of Russian oil & gas, crackdown on its shadow fleet, & more. Ukrainians are fighting our fight—stopping an authoritarian, slaughtering aggressor who urgently threatens both America & Europe.

I’ll fight for National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) provisions supporting Ukraine as it turns the tide. In next week’s Senate Armed Services Committee markup, I’m hoping for bipartisan support—because Americans stand with Ukraine, repulsed by Putin’s war criminal killing.

Russia Launches Deadly Strikes on Kyiv After Threatening Ukraine for a Week Moscow’s repeated warnings of a major strike, combined with the delay before it happened, seemed intended to inflict a psychological toll on the Ukrainian capital.

No trusting Trump’s supposed retreat from his $1.8 billion thug fund plan, even if he makes it explicit. I’ll fight for legislation to prohibit it completely, & any other reward for Trump allies, rioters & lawbreakers. Also, a law barring his corrupt deal to avoid tax audits—worth millions to him & his family.

Trump Backs Off Plan for $1.8 Billion Fund That Drew Political Backlash The fund has drawn backlash from critics who said it was a scheme to reward President Trump’s political allies with public benefits.

Jaw droppingly unqualified—Bill Pulte is a danger to national security as DNI. His knee bending sycophancy to Trump only adds insult to injury, mocking & degrading our intelligence community.

Trump taps housing finance director Pulte as acting director of national intelligence after Gabbard

This tenth trip to Ukraine felt different than the ones before; again & again, we were hustled down dark stairwells into bunkers as Putin attacked the country with missiles and drones, escalating cruelty that signals his desperation.

Russia cannot sustain the current pace in lives, land, & money. Ukrainian heroism is turning the tide, with undeniable indelible costs. We saw the bombed & burned-out apartments & malls, still smelling of fire.

We met with rescue workers who rushed into the flames seeking to save helpless civilian victims. We spoke with children kidnapped & held by Russia—among the more than 20,000 taken by force & often compelled to fight for Russia.

We met with President Zelenskyy & top members of his team who showed a clear-eyed strategy & unshakable resolve to prevail. We heard soldiers ready to return to the fight despite their injuries.

Most impressively, amidst all the pain & grief, we saw a kindness & humanity in Ukrainians reaching out & caring for each other—offering food, shelter, clothing—a moving antithesis to Putin’s bloody aggression.

The FAA’s refusal to mandate lifesaving technology—urged by the NTSB after the heartbreaking Reagan Airport crash—ought to make all Americans angry. Its cost is a pittance compared to airlines’ proliferating profits. FAA need not wait for Congress to act.

This $50,000 Safety Fix Is Dividing the Aviation Industry and Washington Federal safety officials and lawmakers have been at odds over mandating systems enabling pilots to see nearby aircraft.

Here in an Odessa bunker—our third air raid of the day, this one at 3:40 am—there’s no question about the heightened intensity of Putin’s murderous bombing terror. All around Ukraine Russia’s escalating cruelty has inflicted increasing, unspeakable pain, death & destruction.

Still, on this 10th visit, the Ukrainian spirit seems stronger than ever—unshakable. Bravery, caring & kindness are watchwords—getting them through long nights & demanding days. To repel this slautering assault of bombs, drones, missiles, Ukraine clearly needs more American air defense aid.

Trump’s corruption has sweeping consequences—degrading our entire justice system, essential to our democracy. Time for Republicans to join us in fighting it.

As Trump Politicizes Justice Dept., Prosecutors Struggle With Grand Juries Judges and grand juries have increasingly lost faith in the Justice Department as the president uses it to reward his friends and go after his opponents.