Rep. Panetta Authors and Leads Bipartisan Resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives Marking the Third Year of War and Supporting Ukraine
Monterey, CA – U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) authored and introduced a bipartisan resolution supporting Ukraine as it enters its third year of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Representatives Don Bacon (NE-2), Bill Keating (MA-9), and Joe Wilson (SC-2) co-lead the bill.
This third year of an unprovoked full-scale invasion has not only upended Ukrainian society but has changed European security and global stability. On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched Russia’s second unprovoked assault and full-scale invasion against Ukraine. Since then, Russia has orchestrated a brutal war of attrition, including using missiles and chemical weapons against Ukrainian civilians and critical infrastructure, such as children’s hospitals and energy grids in the middle of winter. Yet, the people of Ukraine have withstood this full-scale invasion with extraordinary resilience, despite facing a military and economy twice the size of its own, confronting foreign troops from North Korea, and being targeted with weapons provided to Russia by Iran and China.
“For three years, Russia has undertaken a full-scale war of territorial conquest, that has been met by the incredible strength and ingenuity of the Ukrainian people who continue to defend their homeland and our shared democratic values,” said Rep. Panetta. “The United States must stand with Ukraine as we enter peace negotiations to ensure our ally, who has endured so much, can prosper as a secure and sovereign nation. At this critical moment for global security, NATO resiliency, and democratic durability, we must be bipartisan and stand united.”
“Three years ago, Putin started his quest to restore the borders of the Soviet Union by engaging in a savage war against the Ukrainian people marked by the killing of innocent civilians, the execution of POW’s, the abduction of hundreds of children, and the deliberate bombing of population centers,” said Rep. Bacon. “This is a time for moral clarity and to recognize that the defense of Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence are also in America’s interest. As the Administration seeks to forge a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, we must reject any moral equivalence between Russia’s aggression and Ukraine's legitimate right of self-defense. A flawed agreement today will only sow the seeds of a more destructive and costly conflict tomorrow.”
“Over the past three years, the Ukrainian military has repelled the worst of Russia’s invasion, defended a free and democratic Ukraine, and held the Russian military and government accountable for its war of aggression,” said Rep. Keating, Ranking Member of the Europe Subcommittee. “Ukrainian society has shown the world what true resilience and heroism looks like. Now more than ever, we must stand with them as Russia tries to exact unfair concessions as a price to end the war they started.”
“Three years ago today, war criminal Putin escalated his 2014 invasion of Ukraine and tried to seize Kyiv,” said Rep. Wilson. “Instead of fleeing as Biden wanted, President Zelenskyy stayed and Ukrainians fought back. Today, they are still fighting for democracy, while Putin seeks to rebuild the failed Soviet Empire. I support the courageous people of Ukraine and have faith in the leadership of President Trump to help in ending this war.”
Rep. Panetta continues to lead legislation to support Ukrainians in their fight for democracy. Rep. Panetta authored and introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Ukraine Human Rights Policy Act that would put in place a robust mechanism to hold the Russian Federation accountable for its human rights abuses. Rep. Panetta also co-leads the bipartisan NO LIMITS Act which would hold Chinese Communist Party military firms assisting Russia in this war accountable. Additionally, Rep. Panetta continues to fight for a bipartisan, bicameral resolution that strongly condemns the forced adoption of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation and calls for the return of Ukrainian children to their home country and their families.
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