Today, Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC), both senior members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, reintroduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity in the face of continued Russian aggression.
The Defending Ukraine’s Territorial Integrity Act codifies the United States’ support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by prohibiting the United States Government from recognizing any potential referenda in Russian-occupied, sovereign Ukrainian territory.
The Crimea Annexation Non-Recognition Act prohibits any federal agency from taking any action or extending any assistance that recognizes or implies recognition of Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea, its airspace, or its territorial waters.
“The American commitment to Ukraine and its territorial integrity must be lasting and ironclad,” said Connolly. “We must reiterate, for however long it takes, that we will never recognize any sham Russian annexation of Ukrainian territory – not today, not tomorrow, not ever. President Trump may be willing to abandon our friends in Ukraine as they fearlessly fight for their freedom and democracy, but the United States Congress must not be. Congress can send a clear signal to our friends and allies in the region by passing our bipartisan bills.”
"War criminal Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and continuing war of aggression against its people cannot be permitted. Therefore, the U.S. must lead by example and prevent any territory that has been illegally annexed by the Russian Federation inside the sovereign nation of Ukraine from ever being recognized as legitimate. This legislation demonstrates the U.S. government's strong solidarity with the people of Ukraine, who will be victorious in their defense,” said Wilson. "This began in 2014, with the first major step of aggression when he violated international law by invading and illegally annexing Crimea. I thank Congressman Connolly, the former President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, for his longtime leadership on this critical issue."
Connolly and Wilson previously introduced both pieces of legislation in the 118th Congress.
The Defending Ukraine’s Territorial Integrity Act is cosponsored by the following Members of Congress: Dean, Norton, and Goldman.
The Crimea Annexation Non-Recognition Act is cosponsored by the following Members of Congress: Goldman, Fitzpatrick, Titus, Norton, Sánchez, Dean, and Gottheimer.
Text of the Defending Ukraine’s Territorial Integrity Act is available here. Text of the Crimea Annexation Non-Recognition Act is available here.
