Murphy, Johnson, Shaheen, Durbin Introduce Resolution Calling for Peaceful End to Crisis in Ukraine, Closer Cooperation with Europe

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), Ranking Member on the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) announced a resolution to express the sense of the Senate that the Senate stands with the people of Ukraine as they continue to peacefully call for closer alignment with the European Union, despite facing unacceptable violence from the Ukrainian government. Over the past two weeks, the Ukrainian government has engaged in brutal reprisals against the public demonstrations, resulting in numerous arrests, detentions, and even hospitalizations in the capital of Kiev.

The senators are calling for a peaceful and democratic conclusion to the crisis that ultimately allows Ukraine to become an active member of the European community. Furthermore, the resolution calls for the United States Senate to consider sanctions against those responsible for any further acts of violence against peaceful demonstrators.

"The Ukrainian people understand that they have gotten a raw deal from their government," the senators said. "Ukrainians are protesting in the streets today because they know they're being sold out by their government for short-term monetary gain from Russia, and they rightly fear the long-term economic cost to Ukraine's economy. It's unacceptable that these peaceful demonstrations are being met with aggressive resistance and even violence by the Yanukovych government. This resolution makes clear that further violence by the government will have consequences for our bilateral relationship. Hopefully President Yanukovych will realize that his government will ultimately need to move in the direction its people want to succeed in the future."