Garden State Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, traveled to Brussels, Belgium, to participate in the German Marshall Fund of the United States’ annual Brussels Forum.

Booker, who is in Europe as part of a multi-day trip to examine the current role of NATO in bolstering European and American security and the impact of climate change on national security, spoke alongside Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction, as part of a panel discussion entitled “Fortifying the Future of Ukraine: Rebuilding Infrastructure for Resilience.”

“The United States has been and will continue to be steadfast in its support for security and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine as Putin’s barbaric and unjustified assault on democracy continues,” Booker said. “We must look beyond the conflict too, which is why it’s vital that we engage in discussions about Ukraine’s reconstruction now instead of months or years from now.”

Booker continued, “Reconstruction encompasses more than just physical infrastructure -- it’s also about empowering the Ukrainian government to deliver for its people during and after the war. By working in partnership with Ukraine on reconstruction, we can fortify the capacity of its democratic institutions, strengthen its judiciary and anti-corruption efforts, implement critical governance and economic reforms, foster European cooperation and integration, and enhance its energy security and diversification.”

Video of Booker’s remarks can be viewed here.

Photos of Booker participating in the forum can be viewed here.

As Booker continues his Europe trip, he is prepared to return to Washington in the event of Senate votes on legislation to avert a government default.

Original source can be found here.