Following The Third Anniversary Of Russia's War In Ukraine, Durbin Meets With Members Of The Illinois Ukrainian American Community To Offer Support
WASHINGTON – Following the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, met with members of the Illinois Ukrainian American community to offer support as President Trump continues his affinity for Russian President Vladimir Putin and harmful rhetoric toward Ukraine and President Zelenskyy. During the meeting, Durbin condemned President Trump’s appeasement to Putin—with Trump having announced key concessions to Putin regarding Ukraine and engaged in direct, unilateral negotiations that exclude Ukraine. Durbin spoke on the Senate floor yesterday where he reiterated bipartisan Congressional support for Ukraine.
“Three years ago yesterday, Putin began his brutal, criminal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine—which remains on the frontlines of democracy and transatlantic security,” said Durbin. “When the war started, Americans across the country opened their hearts and communities to Ukrainians fleeing Russian aggression. Today should be no different. As President Trump continues to spew his harmful rhetoric, I want the Ukrainian American community in Illinois and across the country to know I stand with the people of Ukraine.”
A photo of the meeting can be found here.
Yesterday, Durbin introduced the Protecting our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act, legislation that would provide temporary guest status to Ukrainians and their immediate family members who are already in the United States through the “Uniting for Ukraine” parole process. The bill allows Ukrainians to stay and work in the U.S. until the Secretary of State determines that hostilities in Ukraine have ceased and it is safe for them to return. U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) are cosponsors of the legislation. Bill text can be found here.
Durbin also joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and others in leading a simple resolution yesterday that expresses continued solidarity with the people of Ukraine and condolences for the loss of thousands of lives to Russian aggression; rejects Russia’s attempts to militarily seize sovereign Ukrainian territory; reaffirms U.S. support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine; and states unequivocally that Ukraine must be at the table for negotiations over its future.
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