the position and maintain the position we have that we will not commit to keeping ukraine out of nato simply because vladimir putin is demanding that we do that. i don't think we make that commitment. instead, we demonstrate our resolve to nato by sending the troops that we have, 5,000 from the united states, moving some troops from germany into eastern europe, because putin only knows one thing, and that's force, economic and military force. i'm not suggesting the u.s. military should engage or would engage in direct combat with russia but increased presence in europe, increased presence of our european partners in eastern europe is what we need to demonstrate to putin and to deter him from any invasion into ukraine or beyond ukraine. >> well, while i have you, i want to ask you about legislation in your home state. top maryland lawmakers vowed on tuesday to ban what is called