Sen. Portman highlights need for continued U.S. support following trip to Ukraine

Following a recent visit to Ukraine, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) called on Wednesday for continued U.S. support after witnessing Russian aggression in Eastern Ukraine first-hand.

Portman, the co-chairman of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, visited Ukrainian military positions and was briefed by commanders on the ongoing four-year conflict with separatist forces led by Russia. Portman also met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and other top officials in Kyiv.

“As Russian aggression in Eastern Ukraine persists, it is important to reaffirm that the United States stands firmly with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in their struggle to defend their independence and territorial integrity,” Portman said. “As someone who has worked hard in the Senate to highlight the importance of ongoing events in Ukraine and increase U.S. military, political, and economic support to the country, I remain fully committed to strengthening this relationship even further and look forward to working with the Ukrainian government in the future.”

Portman has secured funding for U.S. military aid to Ukraine in the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the last three years. The fiscal year 2018 NDAA authorized $350 million in security assistance to Ukraine for lethal and nonlethal equipment, training and technical assistance.

“The Ukrainian government has done more in the past four years to fight endemic corruption and unaccountable governance than any other Ukrainian government did in the 25 years since Ukraine regained its independence,” Portman said. “However, it is absolutely critical that progress not stall. Ukraine must demonstrate its commitment to long-term structural reform by meeting the reform conditions that will ensure continued Western financial assistance, further Ukraine’s goal of strategic alignment with the United States and NATO, and secure enduring political support from the United States, the European Union, the IMF, and other Western nations and institutions.”

Portman added that Trump Administration’s “long-overdue but welcome decision” to extend defensive lethal assistance to Ukraine was the culmination of “years of hard work by both Ukrainians and Americans.”

“I hope to see the timely delivery of this assistance very soon,” Portman said. “I hope that this gift serves as reminder that all this hard work to strengthen the ties between us is worth it. America stands by its friends, and with the full implementation of this legislation, the United States will finally make good on its promise to Ukraine.”