Title: A resolution supporting an independent and democratic Ukraine against any further Russian military invasion, and for other purposes.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution commends the courage, resolve, and restraint shown by the Ukrainian people in their pursuit of sovereignty and democracy and reaffirms unwavering U.S. support for a secure, democratic, and independent Ukraine. It also condemns Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea in 2014 and denounces Russia's military buildup of over 150,000 troops on Ukraine's border.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 519 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 519

  Supporting an independent and democratic Ukraine against any further 
           Russian military invasion, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 17, 2022

  Mrs. Shaheen (for herself, Mr. Portman, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. 
Menendez, Mr. Risch, Mr. Coons, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Cramer, 
  Mr. Carper, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Graham, Mr. Bennet, Mrs. 
Capito, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Burr, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Romney, Mrs. Murray, 
Mr. Hoeven, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Brown, Mr. 
   Scott of Florida, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Blackburn, Ms. Hirono, Mr. 
Barrasso, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Padilla, 
 Mr. Moran, Mr. King, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Peters, 
 Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Sullivan, Ms. Collins, and Mr. Heinrich) submitted 
      the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting an independent and democratic Ukraine against any further 
           Russian military invasion, and for other purposes.

Whereas, on January 21, 1990, more than 300,000 Ukrainians called for unity and 
        independence from the Soviet Union by forming a human chain between the 
        cities of Kyiv and Ivano-Frankivsk;
Whereas, on August 24, 1991, the elected Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine declared the 
        independence of Ukraine from the Soviet Union with an overwhelming 
        majority vote;
Whereas, on December 1, 1991, more than 90 percent of Ukrainian citizens voted 
        in a national referendum in support of independence, with majorities in 
        every region;
Whereas, on February 8, 1994, Ukraine was the first member state of the 
        Commonwealth of Independent States to join the Partnership for Peace 
        program of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and has since 
        deepened its relationship with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 
        recognized as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner;
Whereas, on December 5, 1994, in an effort to solidify security commitments to 
        Ukraine in return for its nuclear disarmament, the United States, the 
        Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom signed the Budapest 
        Memorandum on Security Assurances, whereby each country pledged to 
        respect the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine's borders while 
        refraining from the threat or use of force against Ukraine;
Whereas, on November 22, 2004, Ukrainians peacefully took to the streets in 
        protest of a fraudulent presidential election, beginning the Orange 
        Revolution and resulting in new elections under free and fair 
        conditions;
Whereas, on November 21, 2013, the Euromaidan protests began in favor of signing 
        the European Union-Ukraine Association Agreement, resulting in the 
        Revolution of Dignity and the removal of President Viktor Yanukovych by 
        the Verkhovna Rada;
Whereas, on February 20, 2014, the Russian Federation invaded the independent 
        state of Ukraine, which continues to confront malign Russian activity, 
        including the ongoing attempted annexation of Crimea, conflict in the 
        Donbas region, and threats to freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and 
        the Sea of Azov;
Whereas, on February 12, 2015, a new package of measures to end the conflict in 
        Ukraine, known as ``Minsk II'', was signed, provisions of which have 
        still not yet been fully implemented;
Whereas at least 14,000 Ukrainians have been killed defending their homeland and 
        millions more displaced since the conflict with Russia began;
Whereas, on September 1, 2017, the European Union-Ukraine Association Agreement 
        came into effect;
Whereas, in March and November 2021, the Russian Federation deployed a massive 
        troop and weapons buildup on the border with Ukraine;
Whereas, on January 28, 2022, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated, 
        ``Our aim is . . .to convey a clear message to Russia . . . if they use 
        military force against Ukraine it will have severe consequences. NATO 
        allies are ready to impose heavy economic sanctions--political, 
        financial sanctions.'';
Whereas, on February 12, 2022, President Joseph R. Biden warned Russian 
        President Vladimir Putin that the West ``will respond decisively and 
        impose swift and severe costs'' if Russia further invades Ukraine; and
Whereas, on December 12, 2021, at a meeting in Liverpool, delegates of the Group 
        of Seven (G7) released a joint statement saying, ``Russia should be in 
        no doubt that further military aggression against Ukraine would have 
        massive consequences and severe cost in response. . .We reaffirm our 
        unwavering commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial 
        integrity, as well as the right of any sovereign state to determine its 
        own future.'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. SENSE OF THE SENATE.

    The Senate--
            (1) commends the courage, resolve, and restraint shown by 
        the Ukrainian people in their pursuit of sovereignty and 
        democracy, and pays tribute to the many men and women who gave 
        their lives in pursuit of a free and democratic Ukraine;
            (2) reaffirms unwavering United States support for a 
        secure, democratic, and independent Ukraine, free to choose its 
        own leaders and future;
            (3) condemns the illegal military invasion of Ukraine, the 
        attempted annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in 
        2014, and the violence fomented by Russian proxies in eastern 
        Ukraine, an active conflict that continues in 2022;
            (4) reaffirms unwavering United States commitment to 
        support the continuing efforts of the Government of Ukraine to 
        restore its territorial integrity by providing political, 
        diplomatic, and military support, including additional lethal 
        and non-lethal security assistance to strengthen the defense 
        capabilities of Ukraine;
            (5) denounces the Russian military buildup of over 150,000 
        troops on Ukraine's border, including in Belarus, threatening 
        the security of bordering NATO allies as provocative and 
        reckless, contrary to established international norms;
            (6) condemns the Russian Federation's continued disregard 
        of international maritime law by partially blocking parts of 
        the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, which hamper freedom of 
        navigation exercises and significantly impact Ukraine's 
        economy;
            (7) encourages the President that, should any further 
        invasion or other malign activity to undermine the sovereignty 
        of Ukraine occur by Russia, the United States Government should 
        use the tools at its disposal to impose significant costs on 
        the Russian Federation to restore peace in Europe; and
            (8) encourages unity among NATO allies and the broader 
        transatlantic community to convey solidarity in response to 
        Russia's unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine.

SEC. 2. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this resolution may be construed as--
            (1) a declaration of war or an authorization for the use of 
        military force against the Russian Federation; or
            (2) authorization for the introduction of the United States 
        Armed Forces into Ukraine.
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