H. Res. 162 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

March 23, 2015. 

Whereas the existence of an independent, democratic, and 

prosperous Ukraine is in the national interest of the 

United States; 

Whereas the Russian Federation under President Vladimir 

Putin has engaged in relentless political, economic, and 

military aggression to subvert the independence and violate the territorial integrity of Ukraine; 

Whereas this aggression includes the illegal and forcible occupation of Crimea by Russian military and security forces; 

Whereas this Russian aggression includes the establishment 

and control of violent separatist proxies in other areas of 

Ukraine, including arming them with lethal weapons and 

other materiel including tanks, artillery, and rockets that 

have enabled separatist militias to launch and sustain an 

insurrection that has resulted in over 6,000 dead, 15,000 

wounded, and more than a million displaced persons; 

Whereas military and security forces of the Russian Federation have been infiltrated into these areas of Ukraine and 

continue to provide direct combat support to the separatist groups in this conflict; 

Whereas failure to stop this aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, especially its unprovoked and 
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armed intervention in a sovereign country, illegal and 

forcible occupation of its territory, and unilateral efforts 

to redraw the internationally-recognized borders of 

Ukraine undermines the foundation of the international 

order that was established and has been defended at 

great cost by the United States and its allies in the aftermath of World War II; 

Whereas Russian aggression against Ukraine is but the most 

visible and recent manifestation of a revisionist Kremlin 

strategy to redraw international borders and impose its 

will on its neighbors, including NATO allies; 

Whereas on September 18, 2014, President Petro Poroshenko 

addressed a Joint Meeting of Congress at which he 

thanked the United States for the military assistance it 

has provided to defend the freedom and territorial integrity of his country and asked for ‘‘both non-lethal and lethal’’ military assistance, stating that ‘‘one cannot win a 

war with blankets’’; 

Whereas the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General 

Martin Dempsey stated on March 3, 2015, that ‘‘we 

should absolutely consider providing lethal aid’’ to 

Ukraine; 

Whereas Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter stated on February 4, 2015, during his confirmation hearing that he 

is ‘‘very much inclined’’ toward providing Ukraine with 

weapons to defend itself; 

Whereas Congress provided the President with the authorization and budgetary resources to provide Ukraine with 

military assistance to enhance its ability to defend its 

sovereign territory from the unprovoked and continuing 

aggression of the Russian Federation, including in the 
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Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014, which was signed 

into law on December 18, 2014; 

Whereas the Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 specifically authorizes the provision of anti-armor weapons, 

crew-served weapons and ammunition, counter-artillery 

radars, fire control, range finder, and optical and guidance and control equipment, tactical troop-operated surveillance drones, and secure command and communications equipment; 

Whereas even as it faces a massive military assault, Ukraine 

is confronting an economic crisis that requires both longterm financial and technical assistance by the United 

States and the international community, especially the 

countries of the European Union and the International 

Monetary Fund, as well as fundamental economic and political reforms by the government of Ukraine; 

Whereas the United States and its allies should provide assistance to support energy diversification and efficiency 

initiatives in Ukraine to lessen its vulnerability to coercion by the Russian Federation; 

Whereas the United States and its allies should continue to 

work with Ukrainian officials to develop plans to increase 

energy production and efficiency in order to increase energy security beyond the short-term; 

Whereas the United States, in close cooperation with international donors, has provided Ukraine with macro-economic assistance to boost Ukraine’s economy; and 

Whereas the United States and its allies need a long-term 

strategy to expose and challenge Vladimir Putin’s corruption and repression at home and his aggression abroad: 

Now, therefore, be it 
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Resolved, That the House of Representatives strongly 

urges the President to fully and immediately exercise the authorities provided by Congress to provide Ukraine with lethal 

defensive weapon systems to enhance the ability of the people 

of Ukraine to defend their sovereign territory from the 

unprovoked and continuing aggression of the Russian Federation. 

Attest: 

Clerk.