WASHINGTON – On March 1, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) released the following statement after the Pentagon announced a transfer of $125 million in lethal security assistance to Ukraine to include Mark VI patrol boats, counter-artillery radars and tactical equipment, continued support for satellite imagery and analysis, as well as medical and combat evacuation equipment These funds represent the first half of the $250 million security package for Ukraine that Sen. Portman championed in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report. Sen. Portman is the co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“I am glad to see this $125 million in lethal security assistance heading to our ally Ukraine. It is clear that Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative continues to provide our allies in Ukraine with the lethal security assistance they need to defend their sovereign territory – on the land, sea and air. I’m proud to have led the effort in Congress to secure this crucial funding. The Ukrainian military has fought bravely and made tremendous strides against Russian aggression. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure the United States continues to stand with Ukraine in their fight to secure a democratic, prosperous and independent future.”
For the past four years, Sen. Portman championed language in the annual NDAA that expanded U.S. military aid to Ukraine, while strongly encouraging the Ukrainian government to continue their efforts in eliminating corruption and continuing with much needed security sector reforms. These provisions helped build the primary statutory framework for U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. In addition, he has repeatedly written letters, delivered multiple floor speeches, and pressed senior administration officials on the importance of providing meaningful assistance to help Ukraine stand up to Russia’s military aggression, and has pressed successive administrations to provide lethal assistance to the country. Sen. Portman also championed the bipartisan resolution marking the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor, passed by the Senate in October 2018.