Biden Officials Brief Senators on Russia’s Confrontation With Ukraine

Top Biden administration officials gave a classified briefing to senators Thursday about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

The briefing came a day after President Joe Biden ordered almost 3,000 U.S. troops to shield Poland and Romania, two allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Ukraine is not a NATO member, though it would like to be. 

Russia has denied plans to invade Ukraine, but has stationed more than 100,000 troops on the Russia-Ukraine border.

Meeting with senators on Capitol Hill were National Intelligence Director Avril Haines, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley, and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. 

About 65 senators attended the briefing, Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., told The Daily Signal.

Braun said he couldn’t go into the content of the discussion, but the bulk of it already was public information.

The presentation went long and not every senator had the chance to ask questions, but, Braun said, his key concern was raised. 

“Germany could make this all a lot simpler if it would simply say, ‘If Russia invades Ukraine, we will pull the Nord Stream 2 pipeline,” Braun told The Daily Signal Thursday after the briefing. 

As the largest economy in Europe, Germany would have considerable leverage over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military designs because of Russia’s new natural gas pipeline, Braun said.

However, Germany is heavily reliant on Russia for much of its energy needs. Although Germany is a NATO member, its government has been reluctant to act against Putin’s government.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., asked the White House last month for a Senate briefing on the Ukraine situation. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had asked for a similar briefing. 

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