Pelosi Statement Ahead of President Trump’s Meeting With Putin

Contact: Ashley Etienne/Caroline Behringer, 202-226-7616

San Francisco – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released this statement in advance of President Trump's scheduled meeting with Vladimir Putin:

"Vladimir Putin has made it his mission to undermine democracy in America and across Europe. Russia's brazen intervention in the 2016 election, exposed by the U.S. intelligence community, has been matched brazen interventions in European nations before and since. The integrity of our democracy and the security of the free world depend on the United States stopping Russia's unchecked assault on our election systems.

"President Trump needs to confront Putin for hacking our democratic systems and make it clear the United States will not tolerate further meddling. President Trump must also insist that Russia end its aggression toward Ukraine and other Eastern European nations. Indiscriminate airstrikes by Russian forces in Syria, propping up Assad, are also deepening the already unspeakable suffering of civilians there. Russia must be challenged to begin working constructively for peace.

"Congress also has a responsibility to hold Russia accountable. House Republicans must stop holding up the Russia sanctions bill and move immediately to send strong sanctions legislation to the President's desk."

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