Shaheen, Members of Bipartisan Senate Ukraine Caucus Urge President Biden to Continue to Support Ukraine and Reject Unprovoked Aggression by Russia

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, along with other members of the bipartisan Senate Ukraine Caucus, recently sent a letter to President Biden, calling on the administration to continue support to Ukraine, as it faces an unprovoked buildup of Russian military forces. In just the past month, attacks on Ukraine by Russia killed 31 Ukrainian soldiers. The Senators also pointed out that Congress has provided robust assistance to Ukraine in the past and stands ready to do so again. Shaheen is a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and Chair of the Europe and Regional Security Cooperation SFRC Subcommittee.

The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Barasso (R-WY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Bob Casey (D-PA), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Ben Cardin, (D-MD), Sherrod Brown, (D-OH), John Cornyn (R-TX), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Gary Peters (D-MI)

“Ukraine is a strategic security partner of the United States that desires to align itself with democratic values. Since 2014, President Putin has engaged in an unrelenting campaign of military and political actions designed to deny Ukraine this dream and draw them back into the Kremlin's sphere of influence,” wrote the Senators. “It is critical that we continue to push back against Putin’s aggression and support the brave people of Ukraine.”

Senator Shaheen has been a tireless advocate for Ukraine sovereignty and its defense against an adversarial Russia.  Last month, Shaheen and a bipartisan group of Senators reintroduced the Ukraine Security Partnership Act. The bipartisan legislation would provide security assistance and strategic support to Ukraine. Senator Shaheen, also a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, supported a provision in the fiscal year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that became law that extends the Ukraine Security Initiative through December 31, 2024, and authorizes the use of up to $250 million included in FY 2021 NDAA to provide security assistance to Ukraine.

Text of the letter can be found here.