You can listen to the March edition of Inside Maine HERE or on Apple Podcasts  

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the March episode of Senator King’s “Inside Maine” podcast discussing Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and what it means for Maine and America. Senator King was joined by former Maine Senator and Secretary of Defense William Cohen, who served on the Senate Intelligence Committee during the collapse of the Soviet Union, and as Secretary of Defense during NATO’s post-Soviet expansion. During the conversation, Senator King and Secretary Cohen discussed the extraordinary resilience of the Ukrainian people, the united resolve of the NATO alliance, and the dangers of Russia’s nuclear doctrine combined with Putin’s isolated dictatorship.

“When Vladimir Putin’s began his heinous, unprovoked attack on Ukraine he hoped to reconstitute the Soviet Union and divide the free world – instead, he has united the Ukrainian people in opposition to Russia and strengthened the NATO alliance for years to come,” said Senator King. “As the Ukrainian resilience, NATO military aid, and western sanctions blunt Putin’s grand ambitions, there are new implications and dangers for the world and Maine. Secretary Cohen’s lifetime of public service and extensive foreign policy credentials make him an important voice on this subject, and I am deeply grateful that he joined Inside Maine to share his knowledge and perspective on the best ways we can continue to support the Ukrainian people.”

A Bangor native, William Cohen was elected to Congress in 1972 where he served three terms in the House serving Maine’s second Congressional district before being elected to the Senate in 1972. He was reelected twice more and served on the Senate Armed Services and Governmental Affairs Committees from 1979 to 1997. He also served on the Senate Committee on Intelligence from 1983-91 and from 1995-97. In 1997, Cohen was confirmed by a unanimous Senate vote to be President Bill Clinton’s Secretary of Defense – a role he served in till the end of President Clinton’s term. During his time as Secretary of Defense, Cohen worked to preserve U.S. military superiority by prioritizing people, readiness, and modernization. During his tenure, Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic joined the NATO alliance.

As a member of the Senate’s Intelligence Committee, Armed Services Committee, and Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator King has forcefully condemned Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian sovereignty and called for maximum economic pressure on Vladimir Putin and his oligarchs. Last weekend, King joined a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Poland and Germany where he met with NATO leaders, Ukrainian refugees, and U.S. servicemembers for a first-hand look at the humanitarian crisis and America’s efforts to support Ukrainians. Senator King recently cosponsored a resolution condemning Russia’s unprovoked invasion and calling for an investigation into war crimes, supported almost $14 billion in aid for Ukraine, has advocated for new sanctions against Putin, and called for maximum intelligence sharing with Ukrainian officials.

The “Inside Maine Podcast with Senator Angus King” is a 30-minute program that aims to help keep Maine people informed about issues of the day, how they affect life in the state, and how they factor into Senator King’s work as one of two independents in the U.S. Senate. Senator King’s podcast builds on his existing radio show that airs on Newsradio WGAN in Portland, Maine between 10 and 11 a.m. typically on last Saturday of the month.

To listen to the March edition of Senator King’s podcast click HERE or find it on Apple Podcasts.