Senate Hearing on U.S. European Command and Security in Europe

• •The hearing took place on March 1, 2016, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
• •General Philip Breedlove served as the Commander of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe at the time of the hearing.
• •Chairman McCain stated that Russia resumed airstrikes in Syria shortly after a ceasefire agreement was reached.
• •The committee discussed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, noting that Russia had annexed Crimea two years prior to the hearing.
• •Chairman McCain alleged that the U.S. administration had not provided lethal assistance to Ukrainian forces despite Congressional authorization.
• •The committee noted an increase in Russian shelling and military exercises near Ukraine and the Caucasus in February 2016.
• •The Minsk II agreement regarding the conflict in Ukraine was cited as not being fulfilled by Russia.
• •The hearing included a formal record of questions for the General to answer following the session.

This hearing documents the official U.S. military assessment of Russian aggression in 2016, which directly influenced U.S. foreign policy, military posture in Europe, and the debate over providing lethal aid to Ukraine.

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.