Bill addresses Russia, Ukraine interaction

Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Eliot Engel (D-NY) recently introduced legislation designed to enhance U.S.- Ukraine cooperation and address effective deterrence from Russian aggression.

The U.S.-Ukraine Security Cooperation Enhancement Act provides specific lethal military assistance including anti-tank, anti-ship and anti-aircraft defense systems for Ukraine to defend its independence while preventing further encroachment by Russia on its territorial boundaries.

“Vladimir Putin will stop at nothing to sow discord around the world and undermine the credibility of democratic institutions,” McCaul, lead Republican of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said. “Beyond attempting to interfere in our elections, Russia has worked to weaken Ukraine’s sovereignty through repeated physical attacks, strategic disinformation campaigns, and a complete disregard for the country’s territorial integrity. By continuing to provide security assistance to Ukraine that furthers its implementation of defense reforms and achievement of NATO interoperability, we can better equip our ally with sophisticated lethal weapons to defend itself and deter Russian aggression.”

The bill would amend previous statutes by increasing specific lethal military assistance to Ukraine and provide anti-tank, anti-ship and anti-aircraft defense systems to the Ukrainians, as well as other necessary defense articles, to defend its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity against Russian aggression.

“In the face of unrelenting Russian aggression, the Ukrainian people have shown extraordinary resolve and commitment to democracy,” Engel, committee chairman, said. “The U.S. must support them with effective security assistance and tougher sanctions on Russia, Putin and his oligarchs as long as these assaults against Ukraine continue.”