Durbin Hosts Senate, House Ukraine Caucus Chairs, Key Members to Discuss Support for Ukraine
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Co-Chairs of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, hosted Co-Chairs of the Senate and House Ukraine Caucus and additional key Members to discuss continued support for Ukraine, including President Biden’s emergency supplemental. In addition to Durbin and Wicker, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), as well as U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Co-Chairs of the House Congressional Ukraine Caucus, also joined the meeting.
“Exactly 20 months after Putin began his brutal criminal invasion, Ukraine remains on the frontlines of democracy and fight against tyranny. During today’s meeting, we agreed that the United States and the nations of the free world must continue to provide the resources and equipment necessary for our Ukrainian friends to prevail against Russian tyranny,” said Durbin. “For a modest investment by U.S. standards, particularly compared to the costs of Russia succeeding, we are keeping hope and freedom alive in Ukraine.”
“We must support our allies around the world and provide them the tools necessary to win,” Wicker said. “It is crucial for Congress to come together and deliver legislation that will help deter our adversaries and strengthen our defense manufacturing capacity for the future.”
“It’s clear that Congress needs to come together in a bipartisan way to bolster our national security and support our allies and partners by passing the supplemental funding bill to support Ukraine, along with Israel, Taiwan and border security,” said Shaheen. “Passing this supplemental will provide our Ukrainian partners with the aid they need to fight back against Putin’s brutal war, and it will show the world that the United States is on the side of democracy and on the side of fighting against oppression, dictators and terrorist organizations.”
“Ukraine's fight is not just for Ukraine. Theirs is a fight for democracy. At the beginning of Vladimir Putin's lawless invasion, no one would have predicted how successful the Ukrainian people and their soldiers would be. Their courage, relentlessness, and sacrifice have exposed Putin's weakness and renewed the world's faith in democracy. As the Ukrainian people continue to give their lives, the United States has an essential and unique role to lead the free world in Ukraine's defense. The future of democracy is at stake,” said Bennet.
“We need to maintain bipartisan support for helping our Ukrainian partners sustain their fight against Russia’s aggression, and today’s bipartisan meeting was a reminder that both parties have a steadfast commitment to giving Ukraine the tools it needs to defend itself. Putin is watching developments in the U.S. closely, and we must send a strong message that the U.S. stands with the Ukrainian people by quickly passing an emergency funding package that will ensure Ukraine can continue their defense of freedom and democracy,” said Coons.
“Yesterday’s meeting reaffirmed that we are united in our support for Ukraine across the aisle and in both chambers of Congress. We all recognize that Putin cannot win this fight – that Ukraine’s survival is critical to the survival of democracies around the globe. We engaged in honest, thoughtful conversation about what it will take to show Putin and the rest of the world that we will not give up. The Ukrainian people have supplied the bravery and we agree that we must continue to supply the assistance that is needed to end this war,” said Quigley.
“Ukraine has successfully reclaimed over half the territory Russia occupied through its illegal invasion. American assistance has proven indispensable in Ukraine’s continued fight against tyranny. With our allied partners, it is our responsibility to ensure Ukraine has the resources she needs to achieve ultimate victory,” said Kaptur. “Our productive discussion today demonstrates that there remains strong bipartisan and bicameral support for Ukraine in Congress. As leader of the free world, the United States must act in unanimity to help secure Liberty and continued independence for Ukraine.”
Photos of the meeting are available here.
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