The Courage of President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian People

"President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people have done such an amazing job — the courage they have shown and the message that they have sent out has made the world want to help them," Rep. Adam Smith told Brianna Keilar during an interview on CNN on March 16, 2022.

TRANSCRIPT

CNN: Oil prices, as you know, are falling. Gas prices, they're not following yet, but they are expected to. And one of your colleagues, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, says that there is profiteering that is happening by oil companies. Do you agree with that?

Smith: Well, I'd be surprised if it wasn't the case. That's kind of what oil companies do. They try to make as much money as possible. It's been a long running battle for years between policy makers and oil companies and oil producing nations to try to drive down the price. I mean, by and large, people who are selling things, they want the price to be higher. People who are buying them want the price to be lower. We have to set policy to try to make sure that the consumer is not taken advantage of. So absolutely, we need to keep an eye on that and try to make sure that the oil companies don't take advantage of the situation.

CNN: You think Americans are willing to pay these higher prices in response to what is going on in Ukraine?

Smith: I mean, the simple answer to that is some are, some aren't. But I think the majority of Americans are, you know look, and this is where President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people have done such an amazing job, the courage they have shown, the message that they have sent out has made the world want to help them from governments to my constituents to just the average individual. I think that message is working. And, yes, I think the American people are
willing to help the Ukrainians in any way they can short of setting off World War III,
obviously. So, yeah, I think there will be more support than you might imagine on this issue.

CNN: Chairman, really appreciate you being with us.