February 29, 2024

Duckworth Reiterates How Supporting Ukraine Helps Ukraine, the United States and the Rest of the Free World

 

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees—joined a fireside chat hosted by the Center for U.S.-Ukrainian Relations to reiterate the importance of additional U.S. support for Ukraine as well as to discuss how supporting our Ukrainian partners does not only help them, but is also vitally important for America’s own national security and strengthens the U.S. defense industrial base. The Senator was joined by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Illinois Division Vice President Pavlo (Paul) Bandriwsky. Photos of today’s fireside chat are available on Senator Duckworth’s website.

“Two years into Russia’s violent, full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. and the world remain in awe of the bravery of the Ukrainian people who are so effectively defending their homeland and their freedom while continuing to repel Putin’s forces against overwhelming odds,” said Duckworth. “Today’s discussion was another opportunity to highlight how vital it is to support Ukraine in their fight against Russia’s aggression and, for the sake of global security, how critical it is for House Republicans to come to the table and help pass the Senate’s bill to deliver Ukraine aid immediately.”

Duckworth has been a strong supporter of Ukraine in their fight against Russia’s invasion. During her official visit to Sweden and the Netherlands last week on the eve of the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Senator underscored how important it is for the United States and the free world to remain united in support of Ukraine as they fight against Putin’s continued aggression, which threatens global security.

Days after the Senate passed a national security supplemental which would provide more than $60 billion in support to Ukraine, the Senator visited U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine and its nonprofit partner, UA Resistance Foundation, in Schiller Park, Illinois. Both organizations are dedicated to delivering ambulances, fire engines, medical supplies and firefighting equipment to Ukraine, and helped volunteers prepare the next shipment of eight donated emergency vehicles to help the Ukrainian people.

Duckworth supported the Biden Administration’s decision to provide additional weapons and capabilities to Ukraine, including cluster munitions. As combat Veterans, she and U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) penned an op-ed on their support in the New York Times. Additionally, she joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jon Tester (D-MT) and six of her colleagues in introducing the Digital Asset Sanctions Compliance Enhancement Act to ensure that Vladimir Putin and Russian elites can’t use digital assets to undermine the international community’s economic sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

Duckworth also urged the Biden Administration to accelerate the sale of M1A2 SEPv3 tanks to Poland. The letter asked the Biden Administration to engage with additional NATO allies to determine if the Russian Federation’s brutal act of war requires the U.S to develop and execute any additional sales to strengthen the military capabilities of other NATO members. She called on the Biden Administration to grant Temporary Protected Status to Ukrainians in the U.S. following the Russian military invasion.

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