WASHINGTON – Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and the Senate Ukraine Caucus met on March 12 with European Union Ambassador to the U.S. David O’Sullivan, as well as ambassadors and officials from the United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Germany, Lithuania and Poland to discuss Russian aggression in Ukraine.
During the meeting, Sen. Durbin raised the importance of halting Russian aggression in Ukraine and bullying elsewhere in the region, including the possible provision of defensive weapons to Ukraine.
“Ukraine is at a critical moment in its history. I applaud the administration for taking the right step by sending increased military aid to Ukraine as they continue to fight for their freedom,” Sen. Durbin said. “An effort allied with Europe against the Kremlin’s overreach and aggression is crucial. Today’s meeting was productive in this ongoing dialog and I look forward to more constructive conversations in the future.”
Sen. Durbin is co-chairman of the Senate Ukraine Caucus along with Rob Portman (R-Ohio). Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) also attended the meeting with European envoys.
Sen. Portman commented: “The United States and our European allies remain unified in our support for Ukraine and our goal of deterring Russian aggression. I appreciated the opportunity to hear the perspectives of the diverse group of America’s European friends and allies, and will continue my work to stand up for the Ukrainian people.”
Other attendees included the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to the U.S. Peter Westmacott, French Ambassador to the U.S. Gerard Araud, Netherlands Ambassador to the U.S. Rudolf Bekink, Lithuanian Ambassador to the U.S. Zygimantas Pavilionis, Polish Ambassador to the U.S. Ryszard Schnepf, and German Embassy to the U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Philipp Ackermann.