WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and James Risch, R-ID, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, announced they will introduce new legislation to support President Trump’s efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine, push back on Russian aggression, and ensure America’s allies are paying their fair share to end this conflict.

This new legislation, the PEACE Act, builds on the successful NATO summit this summer, which produced a historic agreement to increase NATO defense spending and revitalize alliance burden sharing.  The PEACE Act creates a fund at the U.S. treasury that would allow allies to deposit money to replenish U.S. military equipment donated to Ukraine.

Upon introducing the bill, Chairman Wicker issued the following statement:

“President Trump has made clear that he will not tolerate Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin’s continued targeting of civilians in Ukraine.  The death and destruction must end, but Putin will not stop unless it is made clear to him that there is no path to success and that continued war will lead to massive costs for him and Russia. Today, we are introducing the PEACE Act, which gives President Trump and our NATO allies an additional option to deliver military aid to Ukraine. The PEACE Act enables our European partners to finance replenishments so that the U.S. military can continue drawdown packages of weapons to Ukraine. This is the fastest way to arm Ukraine as well as to minimize the strategic and military threat posed by Russia to the U.S. and NATO. The PEACE Act, in conjunction with the purchase of new military equipment and the prospect of imposing a crippling sanctions regime, shows Putin that neither escalation nor attrition will allow him to achieve his war aims.”

Chairman Risch said: “Peace is only possible through strength. President Trump’s work with our NATO allies ensures they cover the cost of weapons for Ukraine, and this bill will give him the tool he needs to do so. Together, we will send a clear message to Putin that there are consequences for his refusal to negotiate in good faith."

Background

1. The historic agreement by NATO allies to spend 5% of their GDP on defense is the culmination of President Trump’s years long effort to revitalize the alliance and ensure our allies are paying their fair share.

2. The PEACE Act will transfer American weapons to Ukraine and use NATO allies’ funds to buy more modern equipment, in alignment with President Trump’s plan.

3. The PEACE Act complements existing tools that the President and our NATO allies are already using, such as the JUMPSTART initiative, which allows Europeans to pay to produce new U.S. equipment, that will be delivered to Ukraine upon completion. The PEACE Act will serve as a bridge to deliver arms in the near-term while new equipment is being built over the long-term.