DeLauro Celebrates Ukrainian Independence Day

NEW HAVEN, CT--Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement today recognizing Ukrainian Independence Day, which is celebrated in commemoration of the Declaration of Independence of 1991.

“I remember vividly the situation in 1991, my first year in Congress, when Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union. That was the culmination of a long and often terrible struggle; the end of seven decades of repression under the Soviet Communist dictatorship. The people of Ukraine fought long and hard to become a free and independent country. We cannot and should not turn back the clock.

“To help prevent that clock from turning back, I support arming troops to support their fight against Russian-backed forces. That is why I supported the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, which President Obama signed into law last December. Because of that law it is the official policy of the United States government to restore Ukraine's sovereignty. The law also authorizes the President to provide Ukraine with weapons to defend itself. We should be carrying out that portion of the law in a much more aggressive manner.

"The recent increase in violence in eastern Ukraine underscores why this is necessary. When I met with Ukrainian leaders just weeks ago, it became clear that Russian President Putin intends to continue a pattern of destabilization and disorder in order to disrupt and ultimately thwart the peaceful transition of Ukraine into a more democratic and open society. This level of aggression must be met with adequate support to protect the representative democracy and self-determination of Ukraine. Accordingly, the United States must do more to support Ukraine’s self-defense through reasonable military arms.

“Laying flowers on a memorial at Maidan Square for the Heavenly Hundred, protesters killed during the protests that led to last year’s Ukrainian revolution was a particularly humbling and memorable experience. We must do everything possible to support their patriotic efforts.”

Earlier this month DeLauro joined a Congressional delegation to Ukraine, where they met with leaders, including President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, to discuss key political and economic reforms and to affirm American support for the people of Ukraine. A photograph of DeLauro, President Poroshenko and the rest of the delegation can be viewed here.


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