Congressional Ukraine Caucus hosts Ukrainian leaders to discuss lethal defensive aid
WASHINGTON—Yesterday the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Representatives Marcy Kaptur, Sandy Levin and Mike Fitzpatrick, hosted a group of prominent Ukrainian officials: Andriy Parubiy, First Vice-Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Oleksiy Skrypnyk, MP, and Olexander Motsyk, Ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S., for a discussion about the prospect of the U.S. providing defensive arms to Ukraine.
“Ukraine is a free and sovereign nation at a crossroads,”said Rep. Kaptur. “Its people are fighting for their lives and their freedom, despite being outnumbered and outgunned by its neighboring aggressor Russia. We now have the opportunity, and more importantly the responsibility based on longstanding international agreements, to help this free nation to defend itself, and not allow it to be subsumed by the Kremlin.” Kaptur added,“The government of Ukraine has acted in good faith to abide by its international agreements, and its goals are to serve and provide for the free people of Ukraine. This is a friendly nation in the midst of a transformation that holds great promise for the U.S., Russia, Europe and the world. However, that promise may never be realized without support from other free nations including the United States.”
Rep. Levin said, “Ukrainians remain resolute and courageous in demanding a better future, and the United States needs to help. Ukraine needs help to find a solution to a durable cease-fire that can lead to a longer-term solution that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty, its future and its freedom to determine its own path. We all know that while there is no purely military solution to what is a political problem, additional U.S. military assistance can help promote a political solution. Therefore, the United States should begin providing defensive weapons that would help Ukraine defend its territory. Such weapons should include anti-tank weapons to defend against Russian-provided armored personnel carriers, ammunition, armed vehicles, and secure communications equipment, among other items.”
Rep. Fitzpatrick said,“The people of Ukraine have an unalienable right to determine their political future without external coercion. Recent elections have shown that the Ukrainian people desire comprehensive government reform and economic development and are ready to make the commitments needed to accomplish those objectives. So how can we stand idly by as those goals are suppressed? As a promoter of international peace and liberty, it is critical that America speak with one voice when responding to Russia’s flagrant and devastating aggression. If we fail to respond to Russian aggression in Ukraine today, it will signal to Moscow – and others nations - that anyone can act contrary to international law and American interests without fear of repercussions. Our response on behalf of our Ukrainian friends will show the world that the United States sticks with its promises and looks after its allies.”
The United States, Ukraine and Russia are among the signatories to the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, which guaranteed Ukrainian security and sovereignty in return for the dismantling of its considerable nuclear stockpile. Russia’s aggressive intervention has been criticized by every other signatory nation as being in violation of that agreement and of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
During the meeting the Ukrainian officials offered a list of concrete lethal aid requests made to the Pentagon and National Security Council.
Contact: Matt Sonneborn, (202) 225-4146 or mailto:Matt.Sonneborn@mail.house.gov(Kaptur)
Josh Drobnyk, (202) 225-4961 or mailto:Josh.Drobnyk@mail.house.gov (Levin)
Aaron Clark, (215) 579-8102 oraaron.clark@mail.house.gov (Fitzpatrick)
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