Hoyer Statement on Resolution Calling for Military Aid to Ukraine

WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) spoke on the House Floor this evening in support of a resolution to provide Ukraine with military aid. Below is a transcript of his remarks and a link to the video.

Click here to watch the video.

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, offered by my friend, the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee [Eliot Engel], supported strongly by the Chairman of the Committee and the former Chair of the Committee, [Rep.] Ros-Lehtinen. This resolution is bipartisan and reflects the will of Congress that the nation of Ukraine deserves every opportunity to chart a future based on democracy, territorial integrity, and freedom from Russian aggression.

“I'm the former Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, signed in Helsinki in August of 1975. In that agreement, the Soviet Union - the then-Soviet Union - and 34 other nations signed a document which said that you could not change borders by other than peaceful means. Vladimir Putin has broken that agreement, but he's also broken the agreement that in 1994 we entered into with Ukraine in consideration of their giving up their nuclear weapons. Vladimir Putin has sent Russian troops into another nation. He's tried to mask it. He's tried the pretense this is simply separatists who are active, but very frankly, those troops in Ukraine have admitted to the press that they're from Russia. Vladimir Putin’s support for violent separatists has destabilized a large region in eastern Ukraine and led to the illegal Russian occupation of Crimea, and the world hasn't done much to discourage not only the actions of Mr. Putin but others who would learn the lessons of his actions.

“The sanctions that the United States and allies have imposed against Putin and his closest supporters, as well as measures to isolate Russian businesses that have enabled this aggression, are having serious effects, but not the effect that we want. But I believe that our nation also has a responsibility to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine and their democratically-elected government by sending them the tools they need to defend themselves. This is not a new position for me. When the Serbs affected a genocide in Bosnia Herzegovina, we had an arms embargo on the people of Bosnia. While arms were flowing in from other parts of the world to Serbia, I thought that was wrong. I think today the unwillingness or inability to create a consensus for giving to a people the ability to defend themselves is not good policy. If we continue to do so, there is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Putin will continue on his path of aggression and acquisition.

“Mr. Speaker, we must continue to support Ukraine on its march toward greater democracy, stronger human rights, and a brighter future for its people. I urge my colleagues to join in supporting this resolution.”