whether you live here or here or out in the middle of nowhere you should have access to fast reliable internet. that's why we are looking for ways. >> supporting as aublic service along with the other television providers giving you a front row seat to democracy. several government officials who spoke at a chamber of commerce forum in washington, d.c. that focus on u.s. ukraine partnerships. they highlighted the need to assist with rebuilding efforts with the russian invasion

[inaudible conversations] good afternoon. good afternoon. i hope you enjoyed lunch and what promises to be the second half of the program that is just as exciting as the first. my name is steel bradley the executive vice president and history teaches us that u.s. global leadership is its

strongest whenro it enjoys strog bipartisan support here at home. today we heard from numerous officials about their commitment to ukraine both the ongoing conflict and reconstruction to come. this morning we received a letter from the republican leader of the senatepu mitchell connell. let me share with you the letter that we received from republican leader mitch mcconnell. attendees a secure and stable ateuro is vital for america's national security and economic future sewing glad to the group of business leaders is already thinking ahead about the potential for making future investments in a sovereign and peaceful ukraine. this could represent a huge the

end of the efforts to rebuild. so wee cannot put the cart befoe the horse. we must keep focused. the war must first be one. the u.s. and our allies and partners need to act more usdecisively and promptly to empowerem ukraine with a level f military aid that can help them rather than halting the unsteady trickle that merely sustained a stalemate. i've been outspoken in my support of the basic understanding that is strongly in america's national interest but i've been equally candid about my serious concerns. in my judgment there've been occasions when quicker more proactive and more decisive decision making by this administration could have significantly advanced efforts and by extension our own goals and interest. i alsory worry falling on the congressional republicans to

articulate the strong case that aiding ukraine within america's cold hard national interest. our support isn't primarily about philanthropy or moral obstruction. it's a direct investment in our future. on the basic economic level the majority of the security assistance quickly referred to as aid to ukraine is actually america ramping up investments in our own defense manufacturing base. of this money either goes to replenish and improve the stockpile or weapons from ukraine directly from american defense manufacturers. either way it's assistance to good manufacturing jobs right heret at home and greater security for the country. of course the outcome in ukraine will shape the outlook and interest beyond europe. we will send a powerful signal to the people's republic of china and other aspiring

aggressors. it will leave us in a tightly knit posture than before this conflict which will pay dividends and longer-term competition against china, iran and others and if we play our cards right victory will have fully awakened not only the united states but all of the nato holidays from history regarding the defense spending on the nation'ss industrial basis. these are tremendous and important opportunities for the united states government, our allies and partners nations and private sector. the west can end this faster but they missed nazis themselves. we must act. they must transfer the capabilities needed at the speed of an event. we must streamline the bureaucracy with the defense procurement and the sales process. allies who are trying to

increase their burden sharing shouldn't have to wait 18 months to get a contract. most important of all congress needs to provide to use top-flight. at the same time the private sector need not waited around for washington. it should be themselves and seize the initiative. our defense manufacturers and other related companies should act now to expand our own capabilities. act now to strengthen supply chains and expand r&d. the future best interest of the national security and future best interest of american industry aligned. so let's lean forward together and grow in the same direction. sincerely, mitch mcconnell, senate republican leader. that's exactly what we are doing today is leaning in together for the safety and security of ukraine today and its future prosperity as well as the united states in the future. with that what we welcome back

audrey to the stage to continue the program. [inaudible] >> i want to thank you for not only the remarks from the leader mcconnell but also the leader for underscoring how important for the united states, ukraine is for our economic and national security. secretary of state recently said the united states will keep standing with ukraine as it its people and fights for its sovereignty and democracy. the next speaker and sure will e touching on many of the same themes and it's my pleasure to introduce her. ambassador victoria newland is the u.s. undersecretary of state

and political affairs who's had a diplomatic career having served in both democratic and republican administrations both at the department of state here in washington and a number of overseas posts including o in russia and as the u.s. ambassador to nato. she has been personally a powerful advocate for security, democracy and freedom here in the united states and among our allies around the world including in ukraine. please join me in welcoming undersecretary newland. [applause] ♪♪ >> i don't think i've ever come into the jungle drums before. that was quite impressive. what a fabulous crowd here today. all in blue and yellow. thank you to marjorie for the kind introductions and thanks

especially to the u.s. chamber of commerce for working with us to organize this critical forum today. i am honored to participate in this meeting along with the secretary, usaid administrator power, under secretary fernandez, my colleague at the state department have so many others from the inner agency and it's also a pleasure to have the prime minister and other ukrainian ministers here in washington with us along with our fabulous ambassador i know you're here i can't see you and in an incredible group of leaders from across the society and the international business working toward a better future for ukraine for the u.s. ukraine relationship and for our world. as president biden said in the state of the union address in february, putin's invasion has

been a test for the ages. obviously for ukraine but also a test for america and the world for the cruelty and willingness to sacrifice the men, women and children and even so many of his own citizens threatened not only ukraine but the very order of our world. a little more than a year ago the question was what we meet this moment. what we together different of the most basic principles of sovereignty, freedom and democracy. what we protect the international order that was built on the ashes of world war ii and rooted in the rule of law as a sovereignty and territorial integrity. a world order that ushered in the greatest. in history. billions off people brought out of extreme poverty and hunger

unprecedented advances in global health, younger life expectancies and and to the cycle of blood the european land wars. or instead what we allow a revisionist but like vladimir putin to rip out the foundations of the order that we worked so hard h to build and if putin wee to succeed, what would that signal to others around the world with similarr coercive toolkits and territorial ambitions ofof their own? fourteen months into this conflict the answer is clear to quote the prime minister we are united today and we will be united in recovery tomorrow. at the american people have provided extraordinary levels of military, economic and humanitarian support to ukraine.

in solidarity with ukraine we and our allies have said no to russia's brutal invasion and helped ukraine pushnv it back. we said no to the nuclear blackmail, no to the weaponization of food and energy and no to the growth human rights abuses and war crime inflicted a daily on ukrainian people. the united states has not wavered in our response and more how our allies we are more united than ever and we here in washington led by president biden will continue to ensure the free world supports ukraine for as long as it takes because the american people understand the stakes that might cannot be allowed to make right not in ukraine or anywhere. thanks to the bipartisan support of congress, the american people have already provided over

50 billion in economic and humanitarian but equally importantly, we helped galvanize our partners and allies around the world to do the same. europe alone has contributed another 50 billion across all lines of effort in addition to welcoming 8 million ukrainian refugeeses and it's important fr americans to remember that fit in european homes across the continent, ukrainians are finding refuge. democracies across asia and other continents are also helpingg as well and or support has evolved as ukraine's needs have evolved. you remember when putin's 40-mile long tank convoy was rumbling and grumbling towards the capital we rushed the tankers to help ukraine win the battle. when putin's forces dug in we

supplied the systems to help ukraine retake the swaths of its territory and when putin turned his missiles and drones on civilian infrastructure cutting off over 40% of households from power, heat and water in the dead of winter we and our allies and partners provided air defense along with generators and auto transformers, some as big as tennis courts to help fortify and restore emergency power. again, why all this effort for ukraine? because we all understand that a support for ukraine is an investment in our own security and prosperity in the world that we and our children want to live in. the payoff of this kind of investment before. the united states made the largest foreign investment in history to rebuild europe after world war ii for the marshall

plan. we spent decades providing support to japan and south korea. today, we sell a half trillion dollars worth of goods across europe and another hundred $50 billion worth of goods each year to tokyo. our relationships support millions of jobs at home. and in those nations, we make up all stronger. still, i don't have to tell the people in this room about the task ahead. it is daunting. as the ukrainian people heroically depend -- defend their immediate future, we must also help them begin planning for a long-term recovery. together, we are working on how to support ukraine's military of the future. russia must not simply storm back after the next counteroffensive and take land again and it you months or a few years.

we will also help rebuild ukraine's energy infrastructure so that it comes back greener and more riesling. we will help strengthen the government to ensure they provide dignity and opportunity for all citizens, and they are better hardened against corruption. we will help rebuild the cities and towns and villages so this place -- displaced ukrainians can return home without here, reunite with their love ones and get back to their businesses, to their farms, and to the work of building a peaceful democratic future. the world bank estimates that we could see reconstruction cost $411 billion over the next decade. that is conservative. among other things, we are working to ensure that russia helped a for all that it has broken. with the support of congress,

the justice department has new authorities to use assets seized from russian oligarchs to aid in ukraine's reconstruction. in february, we announced the first tranche of $5.4 million under this authority. there was more to come. of course, discussions are ongoing about the estimated $300 billion of russian central banks estimates and assets that we and our allies have rosen. one thing is certain. a successful recovery will require a strong and enduring collaboration and partnership between governments and private sectors. this means we have to think about all of the issues you are thinking about throughout this conference. that includes risk insurance to help our firm's in quickly. we also need to help deepen the integration of europe and make

the products a larger part to the global supply chain. we also have to ensure ukraine lives up to his potential as a global technology center. i know these are tough issues that you are grappling with, and you are looking over to hearing the ideas that come from this conference. our work together is not simply about rebuilding what pruden has so criminally destroyed. it is about the complete modernization and revitalization of crane. our shared goal must not be a ukraine that simply survives. it must also be a ukraine that thrives. i want to thank all of you or the role you are playing in that nation. equally importantly, for the role you are playing in protecting all that we as democracies and democratic people hold dear. thank you so much.