Not since President
Lincoln and the Civil War
have freedom
and democracy been on assault at home
as there are today.
What makes our moment rare
is that freedom and democracy
are under attack at both at home
and overseas At the very same time,
an overseas
Putin of Russia is on the march
invading Ukraine
and sowing chaos
throughout Europe and beyond.
If anybody in this room
thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine,
I assure you he will not.
Such a strange
refrain can stop Putin.
You think you can stop Putin?
If we stand with Ukraine
and provide the weapons
and means to defend itself,
that is all.
That is all Ukraine is asking.
They're not asking for American soldiers.
In fact, there are no American soldiers
in Ukraine.
And I'm determined to keep it that way.
But now
assistance to Ukraine is being blocked
by those
who want to walk away
from our world leadership.
Was a long ago
when a Republican president
named Ronald Reagan thundered Mr.
Gorbachev, tear down this wall.
Now,
now, my predecessor,
a former Republican president, tells
Putin, quote,
Do whatever the hell you want.
That's a quote.
The former president actually said that
bowing down to a Russian leader.
I think it's outrageous.
It's dangerous and it's unacceptable.
America,
as a founding member of NATO,
the military alliance
of democratic nations
created after World War
to prevent to prevent war
and keep the peace.
And today,
we've made NATO's stronger than ever.
Welcoming Finland
to the alliance last year.
And just this morning,
Sweden officially joined.
And our ministers here tonight
stand up.
Welcome,
welcome, welcome, welcome.
And they know how to fight.
Mr.
Prime Minister, welcome to NAITO,
the strongest military alliance
the world has ever seen.
I say this to Congress.
We have to stand up to Putin.
Send me a bipartisan national
security bill.
History is literally watching.
History is watching.
The United States walks away.
It will put Ukraine at risk.
Europe is at risk.
The free world will be at risk,
emboldening others
to do what they wish to do us harm.
My message to President
Putin, who I've known for a long
time, is simple.
We will not walk away.
We will not bow down.
I will not bow down
in a literal sense.
History is watching.