Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Politics and Government News
Samuel King

McCollum among U.S. lawmakers in Germany for high-stakes conference

Germany Munich Security Conference
(From left to right) Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., brief the media during the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany on Saturday.
Karl Ritter/AP

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

The first trip to the Munich Security Conference for U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., has been an eventful one. She was among the people in the audience in Germany on Saturday for Vice President Kamala Harris's speech on Ukraine. McCollum is part of a congressional delegation to the Munich Security Conference, where the tensions between Russia and Ukraine have been at the top of the agenda.

“We hope diplomacy works. We spoke with Secretary Blinken yesterday. He has not given up. He's not going to give up on diplomacy until Putin says he's done talking,” McCollum said. “But we have the solidarity here for severe sanctions. And these sanctions are going to radically affect the Russian economy.”

McCollum said there could be a range of outcomes and sanctions, depending on Russia’s next moves. In her speech, Harris said sanctions could potentially target Russia's financial institutions and key industries.

The group also heard from Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

“It was heartbreaking listening to the mayor of Kyiv. People are ready to defend their country and with any means necessary,” McCollum said. “He's very worried about his population.”

McCollum is chair of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. The delegation of House Democrats is being led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., was also in Munich for the conference. She appeared on a panel with British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

“I look to the fact that this coalition must stay strong and we must remember that what unites us is much stronger than what divides us. And that's where we're coming from today,” Klobuchar said during the discussion.

Several other U.S. lawmakers made the trip Munich, something Klobuchar said highlights the bipartisan resolve to stand up for democracy.