Co-Chairs of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue Costa, Sikorski Issue Statement following the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Statement

The Co-Chairs of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue (TLD), Jim Costa and Radek Sikorski, issued the following statement following the Russian invasion of Ukraine:

We, the European and American Co-Chairs of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue, are united in expressing our complete support and solidarity for the people and government of Ukraine in the face of the unprovoked, unjustifiable and criminal attack launched by Putin and his kleptocratic regime.

This is a catastrophic escalation of a series of ongoing attacks on Ukraine, which the Russian Federation has inflicted in recent years, following illegally occupying and annexing Crimea and fomenting separatist movements in the Donbass. These current actions represent an assault not just on Ukraine and its right to exist as an independent, democratic European nation, but on the whole notion of democracy and a rules-based order.

It is essential that all transatlantic allies rise to the challenge of the moment. As a minimum first step, we call on our governments to enact immediate sanctions that will inflict severe pain on Putin, his cronies and his regime, including banning Russia and Russian companies from being able to use the SWIFT system. We call for close coordination among allies on measures to assist Ukraine as it seeks to defend itself, and to provide economic, humanitarian and military assistance.

We commit to working tirelessly in the European Parliament and United States Congress to defend Ukraine and uphold its cause, which is inseparable from our cause in defending liberal democracy, an international rule based order and human dignity. We intend to hold joint virtual meetings in the coming weeks in addition to meeting in person for the 84th TLD Inter-parliamentary meeting in Paris in May 2022.

Source