Sen. Portman praises passage of resolution condemning Russian aggression against Ukraine
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, has praised unanimous Senate passage of a resolution he co-authored condemning Russia’s recent attack on Ukrainian vessels in the Kerch Strait and calling for the immediate release of all Ukrainian sailors.
He joined Senators Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Chris Murphy (D-CT), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, in introducing the resolution on Tuesday. Portman issued the following statement:
“The United States should stand firmly alongside Ukraine in the face of this most recent Russian aggression,” Portman said. “Russia’s unprovoked action against Ukraine is a violation of international law and it highlights the urgent need to bolster Ukraine’s ability to defend its sovereign borders. I’m pleased that this resolution acknowledges my amendment to the FY 2018 NDAA authorizing naval security assistance to Ukraine. As Sunday’s events showed, the Black Sea and Sea of Azov have become hotspots in this conflict and increased naval assistance as well as international condemnation is appropriate and necessary.”
NOTE: Portman has led the effort in the Senate to support Ukraine’s naval capabilities, which were severely degraded after Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. The FY 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, which was signed into law on December 12, 2017, included Portman’s amendment which authorized U.S. naval security assistance to Ukraine for the first time. In fact, this amendment included the specific capabilities, such as coastal defense radars, mine and counter-mine capabilities, and coastal and littoral defense craft, which the Ukrainians urgently need to counter the kind of naval aggression that occurred this past weekend. In September, the Trump administration acted on this congressional authorization and transferred two excess Island-class cutters from the United States Coast Guard to the Ukrainian military.
Russian ships unlawfully attacked three Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait in the Sea of Azov. During the altercation three Ukrainian ships were captured and numerous Ukrainian sailors were injured. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, condemned Russia at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in the strongest terms, saying “This is no way for a law-abiding civilized nation to act. Impeding Ukraine’s lawful transit through the Kerch Strait is a violation under international law. It is an arrogant act that the international community must condemn and will never accept. In the name of international peace and security, Russia must immediately cease its unlawful conduct and respect the navigational rights and freedoms of all states.”
He joined Senators Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Chris Murphy (D-CT), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, in introducing the resolution on Tuesday. Portman issued the following statement:
“The United States should stand firmly alongside Ukraine in the face of this most recent Russian aggression,” Portman said. “Russia’s unprovoked action against Ukraine is a violation of international law and it highlights the urgent need to bolster Ukraine’s ability to defend its sovereign borders. I’m pleased that this resolution acknowledges my amendment to the FY 2018 NDAA authorizing naval security assistance to Ukraine. As Sunday’s events showed, the Black Sea and Sea of Azov have become hotspots in this conflict and increased naval assistance as well as international condemnation is appropriate and necessary.”
NOTE: Portman has led the effort in the Senate to support Ukraine’s naval capabilities, which were severely degraded after Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. The FY 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, which was signed into law on December 12, 2017, included Portman’s amendment which authorized U.S. naval security assistance to Ukraine for the first time. In fact, this amendment included the specific capabilities, such as coastal defense radars, mine and counter-mine capabilities, and coastal and littoral defense craft, which the Ukrainians urgently need to counter the kind of naval aggression that occurred this past weekend. In September, the Trump administration acted on this congressional authorization and transferred two excess Island-class cutters from the United States Coast Guard to the Ukrainian military.
Russian ships unlawfully attacked three Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait in the Sea of Azov. During the altercation three Ukrainian ships were captured and numerous Ukrainian sailors were injured. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, condemned Russia at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in the strongest terms, saying “This is no way for a law-abiding civilized nation to act. Impeding Ukraine’s lawful transit through the Kerch Strait is a violation under international law. It is an arrogant act that the international community must condemn and will never accept. In the name of international peace and security, Russia must immediately cease its unlawful conduct and respect the navigational rights and freedoms of all states.”