While many people were going to Christmas services or gathering with families, a bipartisan group of United States Senators were condemning Russia’s aggressive attacks on Ukraine during the holidays.
Some members of the U.S. Foreign Relations Committee published a statement on Christmas Day that rebuked Russia, and called into question Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s commitment to finding a peaceful resolution.
The letter included a mix of Republicans and Democrats, including Republicans Thom Tillis of North Carolina as well as John Barrasso of Wyoming and Jerry Moran of Kansas. Democrats include Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Jacky Rosen of Nevada.
However, Montana’s senior Sen. Steve Daines serves on the committee and was notably absent from the list of signatories.
The Daily Montanan requested comment on the Ukraine situation as well as why Daines appears to have declined signing onto the letter.
Neither Daines nor his office responded to questions.
The Daily Montanan submitted these four questions to his office and received no response:
1. Did Sen. Daines consider signing onto the statement, and if so, why did he decline?
2. What is Sen. Daines’ stance on the war between Ukraine and Russia?
3. Does Sen. Daines support the U.S.-backed plan that would have a truce if Ukraine cedes territory?
4. Should America take a harder stance against Putin’s regime, or should we embrace closer ties as President Trump has?
The link to the letter can be found here.