Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said the Russian invasion of Ukraine is “unprovoked” and “an outrage” to what should be the kind of national security we expect to see in Europe.
During a stop in Rochester Thursday, Gillibrand said the actions by Russia are extremely destabilizing, not only for that region, but for the entire world:
“It is a dangerous invasion of Ukraine,” said the New York Democrat. "Not only have Ukrainians already suffered, lives have been lost, but it has the potential to escalate into a regional conflict. We stand ready to support the Ukrainian people.”
Gillibrand cited recent sanctions imposed by the U.S. and other NATO allies on Russia, as well as the efforts by the Western allies to provide military equipment to Ukraine as among the moves she hopes will have an impact on slowing the Russian invasion.
The senator also said that she does back a temporary lifting of the federal gas tax and using some of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help keep gas prices from rising too quickly.
The senator also said the U.S. should call on its Middle Eastern allies to start increasing oil production.
“We do far enough for those allies that are oil rich countries, and they should be now doing this for the world economy,“ Gillibrand said. The senator said that she will publicly call on Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern allies to increase oil production.
She was in Rochester Thursday, after a stop in Buffalo, to provide details of the Made in America Manufacturing Communities Act of 2022 designed to boost domestic manufacturing.
Gov. Kathy Hochul also reacted Thursday, saying she was saddened by the very frightening images coming out of Ukraine, after Russian troops invaded that country late Wednesday night.
"Like millions across the globe, New Yorkers are watching the situation in Ukraine with fear and outrage. New York is proudly home to the largest Ukrainian population in the United States. We condemn the unjustified violence and we are grateful to President Biden for his leadership in this moment of global crisis," Hochul said.
The governor also reached out to those Ukrainians who may flee their country.
"Just as the Statue of Liberty stands tall in our harbor, New York stands ready to welcome Ukrainian refugees," she said. "We remain engaged with the Biden Administration and we will be prepared to accept and support those who seek shelter in our state."
Hochul made her remarks while announcing the formation of a group to fight cyber attacks on computer networks in the state, the Joint Security Operations Center in Brooklyn. It will serve as the nerve center for joint local, state and federal cyber efforts, including data collection, response efforts and information sharing. The partnership with several big city mayors includes Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.
In Buffalo overnight, the lights atop City Hall and downtown's Electric Tower were in blue and yellow — the national colors of Ukraine — in a show of unity.
Developer Paul Bohdan Iskalo, president and CEO at Iskalo Development, said the invasion is deeply personal to him, as he is the son of Ukrainian refugees. He and Mayor Byron Brown offered solidarity to the Ukrainian people and to Western New Yorkers with Ukrainian roots.
