Shaheen, Cardin, Johnson & Portman Issue Joint Statement Ahead of 30th Anniversary of Ukraine Independence

Press Release

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations (SFRC) Europe and Regional Security Cooperation Subcommittee, issued the following joint statement with fellow Senate Foreign Relations Committee members: U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chair of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Senators Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) ahead of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence on August 24.

"This is an important milestone for Ukraine, marking three decades since an independent Ukraine rose from the ashes of the Soviet Union's collapse. Over the years, Ukraine has faced immense challenges in its effort to build a more prosperous future for its people, from rooting out corruption to defending its territorial integrity against an increasingly aggressive Russia. Despite these struggles, the progress made in Ukraine on urgent governance reforms are undeniable, and we, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. Senate, congratulate our partners for staying the course," said the Senators. "The U.S. stands in solidarity with Ukraine as it continues to build a democratic, accountable government that is responsive to the needs of its people. We join the rest of free world in rejecting Russia's territorial claim on Crimea and condemning their ongoing assault on Ukraine's territorial integrity in the Donbas region. We are encouraged by President Zelenskyy's commitment to continue pro-democratic measures that will empower Ukraine and facilitate its entry to NATO and the EU, which is in the best interests of Ukraine, our transatlantic community and U.S. national security. As Ukraine celebrates 30 years of independence, the U.S. reaffirms its support for our partners' determination to ensure a free, democratic future for all its citizens."

Earlier this year, Shaheen led a bipartisan congressional delegation with Senator Portman and Senator Murphy to Eastern Europe, which included a stop in Ukraine to reaffirm U.S. commitment to Ukraine as it pursues important, pro-democratic reforms. Shaheen is co-chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group, which she re-established in 2018 with Senator Tillis (R-NC).