Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) recently addressed escalating instability in Ukraine and the role of the United States going forward.
Portman said on Friday that Russia is trying to destabilize eastern Ukraine ahead of more aggressive action.
Portman said he was skeptical of Russia’s willingness to play a constructive role in securing an agreement that ensures peace through ongoing negotiations in Geneva.
“Only the Ukrainian people can decide their country’s future, and the United States and its allies must stand with them during this time of Russian aggression,” Portman said. “The United States must provide more robust support to the Ukrainian government, including badly needed military aid, and demonstrate greater leadership in standing up to Russia’s expansionist policies. We must work to enact stronger penalties, including stricter sanctions, against Russia so that President Putin understands the consequences of continuing down the path of violence and aggression.”
Portman recently supported an aid package for Ukraine that authorized security, financial and technical support for the country. Portman also co-sponsored legislation that would ensure the United States does not recognize Russian control of Crimea.
Collins, meanwhile, condemned reports that anti-Semitic fliers are circulating eastern Ukraine in a separate statement released on Friday.
“The chilling nature of the anti-Semitic flier distributed in Donestk, Ukraine, is appalling,” Collins said. “Seventy years after the Holocaust, the world must never forget the atrocities committed against the Jewish people and strongly condemn anti-Semitism in whatever form it takes, regardless of the perpetrator or their intent in distributing the flier.”