A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate to support Ukraine's accession into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Bill: 118-sres-302
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2023-07-19
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2023-07-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S3153)

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-07-19
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This resolution expresses support for Ukraine's accession into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It also urges the President to engage with NATO leaders to develop a clear pathway for Ukraine's accession to NATO, viewing such accession as critical to preventing future wars and promoting peace.</p>

tv_txt: III 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 302 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 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 Federation 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. Sense of the Senate The Senate— (1) stands with the people of Ukraine and supports the accession of Ukraine into NATO as soon as possible; (2) urges the President to engage with NATO leaders to develop a clear, comprehensive pathway for Ukraine’s accession into NATO; (3) views the accession of Ukraine into NATO as critical to preventing future wars, promoting peace, and ensuring the future security of Europe and the world; and (4) supports the Government and people of Ukraine in this unprovoked war that has stretched over 500 days, as they continue to defend their sovereignty and fight to remain an independent, free, and democratic nation. 2. Rule of construction Nothing in this resolution may be construed as authorizing the use of military force or the introduction of United States forces into hostilities.