DeLauro Statement on Address by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement today on the address to a joint session of Congress by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. DeLauro served on the escort committee that welcomed Poroshenko to Congress and accompanied him into the House chamber for his remarks.

“President Poroshenko’s speech invoked the hopes and aspirations people around the world have for Ukraine: that they may live in peace and freedom. I remember vividly the situation in 1991 when Ukraine declared independence. That was the culmination of a long and often terrible struggle. We must not allow that struggle to have been for naught. We must demonstrate to the Ukrainian people that they are not alone in the face of this Russian aggression.

“If we are going to live up to support Ukraine, we need to strengthen sanctions on the Russian government that has caused the destabilization. This means immediately ending our current contract with the Russian arms dealer Rosoboronexport. We must stop supporting Russia’s jobs and interests, and start acting on behalf of America’s interest.”

DeLauro has cast multiple votes in support of the Ukrainian people this year, and co-sponsored H.Res. 447, which supports the democratic and European aspirations of the people of Ukraine, and their right to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear. In March she met with members of Connecticut’s Ukrainian community in New Haven.

DeLauro has led congressional opposition to American contracts with Rosoboronexport since 2009. That opposition led to the Pentagon canceling a planned future purchase of helicopters from Rosoboronexport. The House of Representatives recently passed an amendment authored by DeLauro that strengthens the ban on DOD contracts with Rosoboronexport. That amendment was part of the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Appropriations bill. DeLauro has introduced the Rosoboronexport Embargo Act of 2014, which would prohibit any federal government funds from going to the company, which accounts for 80 percent of Russia’s arms exports.


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