WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, voted Monday to advance legislation expressing support and authorizing assistance for Ukraine. The aid package, which authorizes $1 billion in loan guarantees to help stabilize Ukraine’s economy, cleared a procedural hurdle by a vote of 78-17. The legislation also increases punitive measures against Russian officials responsible for its unlawful annexation of Crimea and takeover of the region’s military bases.
“Russia’s ongoing military intervention in Ukraine is an affront to international law and a threat to regional peace and stability that cannot go unanswered. The Russian government’s unlawful seizure of Crimea undermines the independence of Ukraine in the midst of political transition and puts the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its regional neighbors at risk. As Ukrainians work to confront Russian aggression and peacefully chart their nation’s future, it is critical that the American people stand with them. This legislation affirms and strengthens the United States’ commitment to the people and government of Ukraine and imposes punitive measures in response to continued Russian belligerence, corruption, and human rights abuses. At this critical moment, we must do all we can to aid Ukraine in achieving a peaceful, democratic transition free from Russian intervention.”