Politicians around Montana weigh in on Crisis in Ukraine

Last Wednesday, February 23, at around 9:50 Mountain Standard Time, reports had surfaced that the Russian military had begun their invasion of Ukraine.

Politicians around the state of Montana had weighed in on Russia’s act of war against Ukraine, which also affects members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which includes the United States of America.

Montana SD 17 Senator Mike Lang of Malta was amongst those that voiced their opinion on the crisis in Ukraine, which took a tone of gratefulness for the situation here in the U.S.

“All may not agree on the processes here in Montana and the USA, however it is far better than the situation in the Ukraine where (Russian President, Vladmir Putin) is circumventing the independence of that nation,” Senator Lang told the PCN. “War is an improbable justification for the Ukraine situation.”

He also said that Putin, was controllable when the US had its own energy independence.

“However, this was lost when we reduced our natural resource production and eliminated the Liquid Petroleum Gas exportation from the USA to countries like Ukraine,” Senator Lang said. “Putin has found a financial gold mine in energy production and he is using this extra financial means to exploit his authoritarianism at the demise of Ukraine and like nations.”

Senator Lang said that the United States is strong and needs to resist Putin, but without war.

He used the 1979 Oil Crisis as an example.

“I remember when agriculture took a hit, as then-President Carter put an embargo on Russia,” Senator Lang said. “It hit us here in Montana directly but nothing like war's effect on the world.”

U.S. Senator John Tester, D.-Mont., sent a statement around the state of Montana, placing the blame solely on Russian President Vladamir Putin.

“Vladimir Putin single-handedly started an unprovoked war that makes the world less safe,” Senator Tester said. “I stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and with every freedom-loving democracy in condemning Russia’s illegal military actions. The United States will continue to support the security and stability of our NATO and European allies in the face of these acts of war.”

U.S. Senator Steve Daines, R.-Mont., took a more aggressive and partisan note, condemning the attack, while placing some of the blame on United States President Joe Biden.

“I’m praying for the people of Ukraine and condemn Putin’s outrageous attack on their sovereignty and independence. Putin is a thug, and he has been empowered and emboldened by Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan and his approval of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline while killing America’s Keystone XL pipeline,” Daines said. “The skyrocketing price of oil and resulting inflation are stark reminders of the importance of increasing, not decreasing, made in America energy. I do not support sending American troops to Ukraine.”

Representative Matt Rosendale, R.-Mont., also sent a statement to the PCN. His letter asked that political leaders in Washington D.C. continue to focus on the needs of the U.S.

“Now that Russia has begun their invasion of Ukraine, cries from war hawks on both sides of the aisle continue to grow louder to spill American blood and treasure in this conflict. We must resist these calls and put America first. The United States has no legal or moral obligation to come to the aid of either side in this foreign conflict," said Representative Rosendale. "In talking to folks across Montana, they are much more concerned with stopping the invasion taking place in our country by millions of illegal aliens than they are the invasion of an Eastern European country halfway across the world. It is our obligation to secure our nation and put the American people first, not send our sons and daughters to die overseas in a conflict that does not serve our national interests."