Kaptur, Fitzpatrick, Quigley, Wilson, Suozzi, McCaul Lead Bipartisan Letter to President Trump Regarding Efforts to Secure Peace in Ukraine, Provide Additional Weapons and Levy New Sanctions Against Russia

Washington, DC – Today, Congressional Caucus Co-Chairs Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05), Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02), Ukraine Caucus Member Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY-03), and former House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10) led a letter to President Donald J. Trump ahead of his White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

The letter commends President Trump’s recent efforts to secure peace in Ukraine and urges the Administration to follow through on his statements to provide additional weapons to Ukraine and levy new sanctions against Russia in order to bring Dictator Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, as well as ensure Russia is held accountable for the kidnapping of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children. The United States has always stood on the side of freedom and sovereignty—and when America leads with peace through strength, the world follows.

Additional co-signers include Representatives: Don Bacon (NE-02), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Brendan Boyle (PA-02), André Carson (IN-01), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Jim Costa (CA-21), Danny Davis (IL-07), Lois Frankel (FL-22), John Garamendi (CA-08), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Rob Menendez (NJ-08), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Joe Morelle (NY-25), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Brad Schneider (IL-10), and Eric Swalwell (CA-14).

A full copy of the letter can be found by clicking here, or reading below:

Dear President Trump,

We write to applaud your leadership and recent efforts to secure peace in Ukraine. Through your strong actions and statements, America has demonstrated the value of its “peace through strength” approach.

We urge you to allow the sale of new weapons systems to Ukraine, to increase sanctions on Russia, and to hold Russia to account for the kidnapping of Ukrainian children since the start of the war. These steps would significantly strengthen Ukraine’s position, pressuring Russia to accept the peace negotiations that you have diligently pursued. The time for peace in Ukraine is now.

In recent weeks, you stated that Kyiv can “win all of Ukraine back in its original form.” Furthermore, you have indicated your openness to sending Tomahawk weapon systems to Ukraine. Most notably, you have brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after two prolonged years of war, beginning the “historic dawn of a new Middle East.” Congress and the American people support you in these efforts. As we seek to bring about a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, there are additional steps that can be taken to counter Russia’s ongoing aggression and strengthen Ukraine’s position at the negotiating table.

First, per your recent statements, the United States can provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs to ensure that Russia is brought to the negotiating table. Your calls for the provision of Tomahawk missiles and the intelligence necessary for Ukraine to threaten military targets deep inside Russia would provide Ukraine with an increased ability to deter further aggression. Furthermore, the provision of capabilities including additional Patriot missile batteries and ammunition, F-16 software upgrades, and Advanced Precision Kill Weapons Systems would ensure that Ukrainians can be protected from Russia’s increasingly deadly attacks on population centers and energy infrastructure. Together with large investments from our European allies, these steps would ensure a European-driven defense and reflects a “peace through strength” strategy focused on ending the conflict on terms that uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty and deter future Russian escalation.

Secondly, we are pleased with the progress being made by our European allies, through your partnership and encouragement, to end Europe’s reliance on Russian energy and the enactment of impactful new sanctions against Putin’s regime. The moment is here to levy forceful new joint sanctions against Russia and its allies who continue to purchase Russian oil and, in doing so, uphold the Russian war machine. Legislation to enact such new sanctions has broad support in Congress and we are eager to work with you and your administration to promptly use this powerful tool to bring Putin to the negotiating table.

Lastly, we must also address the ongoing crisis of missing Ukrainian children as this war continues. The recent return of eight Ukrainian children, previously held in Russia, to their families is a welcome and meaningful development. The First Lady’s passionate advocacy calling for their release—through sustained engagement and diplomacy—deserves recognition. Her efforts have helped draw international attention to this urgent issue. We are deeply appreciative of her ongoing commitment to the process of bringing Ukrainian children home. Over 20,000 Ukrainian children remain captive in Russia, and some are being trained to fight for the Russia military against their own country.

Together, we can help ensure that Ukraine—like Israel and Gaza—can pursue peace and security through a negotiated ceasefire and a just resolution to the war. To ensure that Russia can be brought to the table, we request your commitment to the provision of new arms to Ukraine, the implementing of powerful new sanctions against Russia, and the holding of Russia to account for the kidnapping of Ukrainian children since the start of the war. 

# # #