WASHINGTON, D.C. (KAMR/KCIT) — Officials with the office of Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) announced Tuesday that he joined other Republican members of the U.S. Senate to introduce the “Never Yielding Europe’s Territory Act.”

According to a news release, the act, if passed, would help provide support to Ukraine and impose “real costs” on Russia for its “ongoing and potential future aggression” against the company. Other members of the U.S. Senate who signed the bill included Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Sen. James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) and Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina).

“Vladimir Putin is testing the waters in Ukraine to see how much he can get away with, and the rest of the world is watching,” Cornyn said in the release. “This legislation will ensure Ukrainian forces have the resources and support they need to deter – and defend – against Russian invasion, and I hope the Senate will take action soon to reaffirm America’s position as the lead defender of global peace and security.”

“It’s easier to stop a war that has never started than it is to end a war in process. Strong economic sanctions against Russia, and any other country that helps them, for their unprovoked aggression against Ukraine will send a clearer message to President Putin than President Biden’s ‘wait and see’ approach,” said Lankford in a news release from the Oklahoma Senator’s Office. “We should stand up to Russian aggression and take practical steps to prevent war.” 

If passed, the act would include the following:

  • Immediately stops construction of the Nord Stream 2 project and would mandate sanctions on the project without a waiver should Russia invade. Prior to an invasion, the bill suspends sanctions for as long as the German government continues to suspend the certification process;
  • Sanctions on major Russian banks;
  • Provides $500 million in Foreign Military Financing for Ukraine, including $250 million in emergency funding, with $100 million for emergency lethal assistance for capabilities like air defense, anti-armor and anti-ship capabilities;
  • Doubles funding for U.S. military exercises in Europe.