Durbin Meets With Members of the Ukrainian Parliament
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today hosted members of the Ukrainian Parliament to receive an update on Putin’s unprovoked war in Ukraine, and discuss calls for a special tribunal to hold Russian leaders accountable for the crime of aggression. Senator Durbin was joined by Ambassador-at-Large, Anton Korynevych; Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), also Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus; as well as Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), James Risch (R-ID), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).
“Perpetrators committing unspeakable war crimes, such as those unfolding before our very eyes in Ukraine, must be held to account,” said Durbin. “During today’s meeting, we reiterated our steadfast commitment to the Ukrainian people. I applaud the brave Ukrainians who met with us today and we will do everything in our power to continue to work with NATO and our European allies to support the Ukrainian people, including in their call for justice.”
Photos of the meeting are available here.
In September, Durbin hosted Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin to receive an update on reports of war crimes and crimes against humanity by Russians. Durbin and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introducedthe bipartisan, bicameral Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act, legislation that updates the current war crimes statute to enable prosecution of foreign war criminals in the United States regardless of the location or targets of their atrocities. The bill also extends the statute of limitations for war crimes discovered years after they occur.
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