Congressional delegation to Ukraine expresses optimism amid tensions with Russia

Members of a congressional delegation on a three-day trip to Ukraine expressed optimism on Wednesday that Russia’s alleged efforts to destabilize the country and disrupt presidential elections there would fail.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) and Ranking Member Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) are leading the bipartisan delegation.

“Our bipartisan delegation came to crisis-stricken Ukraine to assess first-hand the facts as they exist here on the ground,” Royce said. “During three days of talks with a broad range of Ukrainians – senior government officials, representatives of civil society, Jewish and other minority groups and others in Kyiv and eastern Ukraine, including the Russian-speaking community – the consistent message I heard is that they are strongly committed to creating a democratic, united, and tolerant Ukraine and proudly anticipating the upcoming Ukrainian elections….”

The delegation met with senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials, including Vice President Joe Biden and acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

“I leave Ukraine determined to work so Russia’s efforts to destabilize the country and derail the May 25 presidential election will not succeed,” Royce said. “Likewise, I leave Ukraine even more convinced that it is vital for the United States and our allies in Europe and elsewhere to make clear to Vladimir Putin that further aggression against Ukraine will result in hard-hitting sanctions that will undermine the Russian economy and cause Putin to rethink his actions. A key part of our strategy must be to use the sale of U.S. natural gas to Ukraine to break Russia’s chokehold.”

Engel said the bipartisan delegation sent a strong message of support to the Ukrainian people at a critical time.

In addition to meeting with senior officials, the delegation also examined Ukraine’s efforts to diversify its energy supply and efforts to counter Russian propaganda with international broadcasting in eastern Ukraine.