For four years, the Ukrainian people have demonstrated bravery and courage to defend their democracy and their country from illegal Russian aggression. Four years on, amid continued Russian bombardment in the coldest Ukrainian winter in decades, the Ukrainian people remain strong and resilient. Their actions should be an example to us all.
In Congress, for three years, Ukraine was a bipartisan issue. Democrats and Republicans alike passed meaningful, significant pro-Ukraine and anti-Russia legislation. Yet, in the last year, the Trump administration has taken a remarkably different turn. A recent report showed that in the past year, U.S. military aid to Ukraine fell by 99%. As a public servant whose relatives fought and died for this country in World War II, this lack of action from the Trump administration is sickening.
While I support talks at peace and believe, as Ukraine does, that this war must come to an end, it is clear we must ramp up the pressure on Russia. While the Ukrainian government bends over backwards to accommodate the President’s attacks and ignorance, Russia has stalled. More importantly, Russia has continued to kill thousands of Ukrainians to fulfill the despotic vision of Vladimir Putin.
As Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe and as a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, I will continue to support strong pro-Ukraine and anti-Russia legislation. This includes the Ukraine Support Act which I have co-led and the discharge petition of which remains one Republican signature away from a vote on the floor. I also call on President Trump, on this fourth anniversary, to impose significant additional sanctions on the Russian energy and banking sectors as well as update and maintain current sanctions lists that his administration has allowed to lapse.
While the administration and Republicans in Congress refuse to act, I know that the vast majority of the American people remain steadfast in their support for Ukraine’s fight and the Ukrainian people. I know that support will endure not only for the coming weeks and months, but for the years to come.