Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz has announced he will lift a hold on State Department nominees following the decision by President Joe Biden to rescind sanction waivers regarding the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
Cruz made the announcement in a statement from his office on Wednesday.
“President Biden made the right decision today. Allowing Putin’s Nord Stream 2 to come online would have created multiple, cascading, and acute security crises for the United States and our European allies for generations to come. Today’s announcement is critical to preventing such scenarios,” the Texas senator stated.
President Biden made the right decision today. Allowing Putin's Nord Stream 2 to come online would have created multiple, cascading, and acute security crises for the United States and our European allies for generations to come. 1/X
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) February 23, 2022
Cruz also recommended the decision to halt activation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline be made permanent.
“Today’s announcement should be followed by additional steps inside the Biden administration and in Congress to permanently lock in sanctions. Putin believes that Nord Stream 2’s activation is a fait accompli now that it has been physically completed, and that any barriers or sanctions are only temporary,” the senator wrote.
“His aggression toward Ukraine is based on that assessment, and the only way to change his decision calculus is to convince him Nord Stream 2 will never come online,” he added.
Cruz also noted the importance of supporting the people of Ukraine during this difficult time in the nation’s history.
“Meanwhile, our Ukrainian allies are on the front lines this very moment bravely facing down Russian forces. For months they have been pleading with us to help them by, first, locking in exactly these sanctions on Nord Stream 2 and, second, providing them with the lethal aid they need to defend themselves. President Biden has now taken positive steps in both areas, but much more still needs to be done to deter and counter the threat that Putin poses to our allies in Ukraine and across Europe,” he wrote.
On Thursday, Cruz also shared his support and prayers for Ukrainians facing Russian aggression.
“Praying for the millions of Ukrainians who are facing Putin’s unprovoked aggression & this existential threat. Ukraine has America’s steadfast support & we will continue to arm them so they can defend their country. Those involved in this should know they’ll be held accountable,” he wrote on Twitter.
Praying for the millions of Ukrainians who are facing Putin's unprovoked aggression & this existential threat.
Ukraine has America's steadfast support & we will continue to arm them so they can defend their country. Those involved in this should know they'll be held accountable.
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) February 24, 2022
The senator’s office has also provided information to assist Texans who may need help leaving Ukraine or for those who have family members in the nation.
In addition, Cruz blasted Putin in a statement on Monday ahead of the Russian invasion.
“Vladimir Putin’s announcement today is just the latest step in his obsessive drive to rebuild the Soviet Union, at the expense of the national security of the United States and our allies. He seeks to make the lives of Americans worse, and he will use whatever new territory, resources, and power that he gains to do so—including control over energy he would seize in Ukraine. His announcements today, including the recognition of non-governmental controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine and that Russia would be deploying forces into Ukraine, must be met with an immediate response,” Cruz wrote.