Congressman Lamborn Issues Statement on Longstanding Support of Ukraine

Statement

Congressman Lamborn, Ranking Member of the House Armed Service's Strategic Forces Subcommittee and long-standing member of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, issued the following statement:

"I have always recognized the importance of helping Ukraine defend itself against communist Russia's persistent and unprovoked aggression. In 2014, as Russia was illegally annexing Crimea and beginning its years-long occupation of the Donbas region, the Obama-Biden Administration rejected Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's plea for weapons to defend his country. Instead, they sent blankets and MREs, saying that defending Ukraine wasn't a core U.S. national security concern.

"Despite Obama's refusal to provide Ukraine with lethal aid, I worked tirelessly with my colleagues to authorize the sale of arms to Ukraine in 2014. Years later, I worked with President Trump to break from Obama's policy and provide Ukraine with critically needed defensive lethal arms, including Javelin anti-tank weapons, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and sniper rifles that were long sought by Kyiv for their strategic importance and deterrent value. This was the largest U.S. commercial sale of lethal defensive weapons to Ukraine.

"Over the past 48 hours we have seen these weapons in action, saving the lives of innocent Ukrainians. It's heartbreaking to imagine the strengthened position Ukraine could have been in had we started helping them in 2014 instead of wasting precious time.

"Now in 2022, we see the Biden Administration mimicking Obama's weakness in the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine. I am deeply disappointed that Biden has chosen to impose toothless sanctions on Russia instead of imposing meaningful sanctions that target Putin and the oligarchs that support his regime. I call on President Biden to fulfill his promise to impose crippling sanctions that will impose maximum costs on Russia and Putin, including removing Russia from the SWIFT financial messaging system. Ukraine is an important friend and ally, and the United States should support self-determination and human rights for the Ukrainian people. They do not have the luxury of time."

As a leader on the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Lamborn has worked to secure:

- $1.5 billion in security assistance for Ukraine to stand up to Russia's unprovoked, years-long aggression against them. This funding has including everything from Humvees and patrol boats to counter artillery radar and lethal weaponry such as Javelin antitank missiles.

- Non-lethal security assistance, such as American-made medical equipment, night vision devices, and counter-mortar radar to assist Ukrainian forces.

- $150 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative for training, equipment, and intelligence support in the FY2017 DoD Appropriations bill.

- Full funding of President Trump's request for $250 Million for Ukraine, including lethal aide, in the FY19 NDAA.

- $300 million in security assistance and intelligence support to Ukraine, including $75 million in lethal assistance, in the FY2022 NDAA.

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