WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate on July 17 passed by unanimous consent S. Res. 74, “A resolution marking the fifth anniversary of Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity by honoring the bravery, determination, and sacrifice of the people of Ukraine during and since the Revolution, and condemning continued Russian aggression against Ukraine.”
The resolution was co-sponsored by 20 senators and resolves to: remember the courage and resolve shown by the Ukrainian people in the Revolution of Dignity; affirms the U.S. government’s unwavering commitment to supporting the continuing efforts of the government of Ukraine to implement democratic and free market reforms, restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity, as well as providing additional lethal and non-lethal security assistance to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities on land, sea and in the air in order to improve deterrence against Russian aggression; condemns the Russian Federation’s ongoing malign activities against Ukraine and renews its call on the government of the Russian Federation to immediately cease all activity that seeks to undermine Ukraine and destabilize the European continent; and, affirms the State Department’s Crimea Declaration, announced on July 25, 2018, that rejects Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea and pledges to maintain this policy until Ukraine’s territorial integrity is restored.
This resolution was advocated during the Ukrainian Day advocacy event in Washington in June.
Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), co-chairs and co-founders of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, praised the passage of S. Res. 74
“I am proud to see the Senate pass this resolution in a strong, bipartisan manner,” said Sen. Portman. “This resolution honors the courage of the thousands of Ukrainians who, five years ago, braved a fierce winter and even fiercer government repression to fight for a brighter future for their country. Despite Russia’s attempts to destabilize Ukraine, since 2014 Ukraine has made great strides in tackling corruption and strengthening the rule of law, and I urge the country to continue along this path to fulfill the promises of the Revolution of Dignity. The United States stands firmly with Ukraine, and I was pleased to reinforce this pledge on my recent visit to the country.”
“I will never forget walking through the Maidan with Sen. [John] McCain shortly after the momentous events that occurred there five years ago,” said Sen. Durbin. “Passage of this bipartisan resolution sends a strong message that the U.S. Senate stands with the many brave Ukrainians who lost their lives in the hopes of a more democratic and open country – an aspiration we should continue to advance and protect.”
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee had approved the resolution in May. Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) also co-sponsored the resolution.
Sources: Ukrainian National Information Service, Senate Ukraine Caucus