Senate to get Ukraine, Russia briefing on Thursday

Biden administration officials will brief the Senate on Thursday on Ukraine and escalating tensions with Russia, which has amassed troops along the border.

The briefing with senior administration officials, confirmed to The Hill by a Senate aide, comes amid growing concerns over a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine, with Moscow estimated to have 120,000 troops near the border.

Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) had previously requested the all-member briefing for this week, when the Senate will return from a one-week recess.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has also requested a briefing for all House members. A spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to questions about the timing of a potential House briefing.

In addition to briefings for lawmakers, the administration is also expected to brief leadership and committee staff this week, and officials have also spoken one-on-one with lawmakers. 

Administration officials have warned of an “imminent” potential incursion into Ukraine, but also said publicly that they don’t believe Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a final decision.

Senators are nearing a deal that would slap immediate sanctions on Russia for cyberattacks and efforts to undermine the Ukrainian government, while imposing further financial penalties if Russia invades Ukraine in an effort to deter Putin. A Senate agreement is also expected to bolster lethal aid to Ukraine.

“I would describe it as we are on the 1-yard line, and hopefully we will be able to conclude successfully,” Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said during a joint interview with Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), the panel’s top Republican, on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

President Biden is also planning to send U.S. forces to Eastern Europe, saying on Friday that it would happen in the “near term.”

The Pentagon has put 8,500 troops on heightened alert for potential deployment to NATO countries in Eastern Europe. Most of the troops are expected to join a NATO rapid response force in Eastern Europe.