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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 268 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 268

 Responding to the threat posed by the Russian Federation's deployment 
          of tactical nuclear weapons, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 22, 2023

  Mr. Graham (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Responding to the threat posed by the Russian Federation's deployment 
          of tactical nuclear weapons, and for other purposes.

Whereas the military doctrine of the Russian Federation states ``The Russian 
        Federation reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to . . 
        . large-scale aggression utilizing conventional weapons in situations 
        critical to the national security of the Russian Federation'';
Whereas it is estimated that the Russian Federation has an arsenal of as many as 
        2,000 tactical nuclear weapons;
Whereas President Vladimir Putin has expressed a willingness to use tactical 
        nuclear weapons when he stated ``If the territorial integrity of our 
        country is threatened, we will without doubt use all available means to 
        protect Russia and our people--this is not a bluff . . . [a]nd those who 
        try to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the 
        weathervane can turn and point towards them'';
Whereas, on March 23, 2023, Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security 
        Council of the Russian Federation, stated ``Every day when they [the 
        west] provide Ukraine with foreign weapons brings the nuclear apocalypse 
        closer'';
Whereas, in May 2023, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus 
        formalized an agreement that allows for the deployment of the Russian 
        Federation's tactical nuclear weapons in the Republic of Belarus;
Whereas the deployment of the Russian Federation's tactical nuclear weapons in 
        the Republic of Belarus would be the first such deployment of these 
        weapons outside of the Russian Federation since the fall of the Soviet 
        Union in 1991;
Whereas, on June 17, 2023, President Vladimir Putin confirmed that the Russian 
        Federation had begun to deploy tactical nuclear weapons within the 
        Republic of Belarus and confirmed that the deployment of these weapons 
        would be completed by the end of the summer;
Whereas, on June 17, 2023, following the announcement of the Russian 
        Federation's deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in the Republic of 
        Belarus, President Biden expressed publically that such a move was 
        ``totally irresponsible'';
Whereas, on June 19, 2023, President Biden stated, ``I [worry] about Putin using 
        tactical nuclear weapons'', and that the threat of the Russian 
        Federation using such a weapon is ``real'';
Whereas the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in the Republic of Belarus by 
        the Russian Federation poses an increased threat to not only Ukraine but 
        also our NATO allies and United States troops stationed in nations along 
        the Belarusian border;
Whereas the use of a tactical nuclear weapon or an attack that results in 
        nuclear fallout of any kind would impact Europe and NATO member states; 
        and
Whereas article V of the North Atlantic Treaty states ``. . . an armed attack 
        against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be 
        considered an attack against them all and . . . will assist the Party or 
        Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert 
        with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the 
        use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security . . .'': Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) agrees that the deployment of the Russian Federation's 
        tactical nuclear weapons within the Republic of Belarus is a 
        threat to Ukraine and NATO member states;
            (2) views the use of any tactical nuclear weapon by the 
        Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, or their proxies, 
        or the destruction of a nuclear facility, dispersing 
        radioactive contaminates into NATO territory causing 
        significant harm to human life, as an attack on NATO requiring 
        an immediate response, including the implementation of article 
        V of the North Atlantic Treaty; and
            (3) urges the current administration to consult with NATO 
        leaders and other European partners to develop a comprehensive 
        response to minimize the threat to civilians and coordinate a 
        diplomatic and military response commensurate with the 
        situation.
                                 <all>
```