III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 302 

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate to support Ukraine’s accession 

into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 19, 2023 

Mr. GRAHAM (for himself and Mr. BLUMENTHAL) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate to support 

Ukraine’s accession into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). 

Whereas the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 

was established to provide ‘‘for [the] collective defence 

and for the preservation of peace and security’’ of its 

members through promoting cooperation and committing 

them to democracy, individual liberty, the rule of law, 

and the peaceful resolution of disputes; 

Whereas, on August 24, 1991, Ukraine became a sovereign, 

independent nation and started a long process of reforms 

with the goal of achieving democracy, transparency, and 

rule of law; 

Whereas, on December 5, 1994, Ukraine signed the Budapest 

Memorandum and surrendered its nuclear weapons, the 


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•SRES 302 IS 

third largest stockpile in the world at the time, in exchange for nonbinding security guarantees from the 

United States, the United Kingdom, and the Russian 

Federation; 

Whereas, on April 3, 2008, heads of state and government 

of the member countries of NATO signed the Bucharest 

Summit Declaration, which stated, ‘‘NATO welcomes 

Ukraine’s and Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations for 

membership in NATO. We agreed today that these countries will become members of NATO. Both nations have 

made valuable contributions to Alliance operations’’; 

Whereas, on February 20, 2014, the Russian Federation and 

its proxies launched an unprovoked invasion of Crimea 

and annexed the peninsula, and has illegally occupied the 

peninsula since; 

Whereas, on April 6, 2014, the Russian Federation and its 

proxies launched an operation in the Donetsk and 

Luhansk provinces of Ukraine and have illegally occupied 

portions of the Donbas region since; 

Whereas, on February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation 

launched a full-scale, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, a 

sovereign nation that borders Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, 

and Romania, all of whom are members of NATO; 

Whereas, on September 30, 2022, Ukraine formally applied 

to join NATO, and President Volodymyr Zelensky stated, 

‘‘We are taking our decisive step by signing Ukraine’s 

application for accelerated accession to NATO.’’; 

Whereas, on June 17, 2023, President Vladimir Putin confirmed that the Russian Federation had begun to deploy 

tactical nuclear weapons within the Republic of Belarus, 

further increasing the threat posed by the Russian FedVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:12 Jul 20, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR302.IS SR302

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•SRES 302 IS 

eration to Ukraine, surrounding NATO countries, allies, 

partners, and United States troops stationed in the region; 

Whereas, on July 7, 2023, NATO Secretary-General Jens 

Stoltenberg stated that, at the NATO Summit 2023, 

NATO leaders ‘‘will agree a multi-year program of assistance to ensure full interoperability between the Ukrainian 

Armed Forces and NATO’’ and ‘‘will reaffirm that 

Ukraine will become a member of NATO and unite on 

how to bring Ukraine closer to its goal’’; 

Whereas, on August 24, Ukraine celebrates their independence day and commemorates the date on which they left 

the Soviet Union to become a sovereign and democratic 

state; 

Whereas NATO members ‘‘are determined to safeguard the 

freedom, common heritage and civilisation of their peoples’’, which Ukraine has done since the first day of the 

Russian Federation’s unprovoked full-scale invasion more 

than 500 days ago; and 

Whereas, with support from NATO members and partner nations around the world, Ukraine continues to counter the 

Russian Federation’s aggression: Now, therefore be it 

1 Resolved, 

2 SECTION 1. SENSE OF THE SENATE. 

3 The Senate— 

4 (1) stands with the people of Ukraine and sup5 ports the accession of Ukraine into NATO as soon 

6 as possible; 


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•SRES 302 IS 

1 (2) urges the President to engage with NATO 

2 leaders to develop a clear, comprehensive pathway 

3 for Ukraine’s accession into NATO; 

4 (3) views the accession of Ukraine into NATO 

5 as critical to preventing future wars, promoting 

6 peace, and ensuring the future security of Europe 

7 and the world; and 

8 (4) supports the Government and people of 

9 Ukraine in this unprovoked war that has stretched 

10 over 500 days, as they continue to defend their sov11 ereignty and fight to remain an independent, free, 

12 and democratic nation. 

13 SEC. 2. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 

14 Nothing in this resolution may be construed as au15 thorizing the use of military force or the introduction of 

16 United States forces into hostilities. 

Æ 


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