The Ambassador thanked American lawmakers for their continued commitment to support Ukraine, particularly for the already passed important bills and resolutions aimed to help Ukraine fend off Russian aggression, and introduction of new legislative initiatives in this area, in particular the Stability and Democracy for Ukraine Act, which tightens existing U.S. sanctions over Russia and contains prohibitions against U.S. recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
Valeriy Chaly called on members of Congress to not only preserve but also increase further pressure on Russia, as well as to enhance the U.S. assistance to Ukraine in political, security, and financial areas. He drew attention to Russia’s failure to fulfill its commitments under the Minsk agreements, as well as illegal attempts by the Kremlin to hold parliamentary elections in Crimea. The Ambassador called on the Congress to not recognize neither the fact nor outcome of the so-called elections.
The Ambassador praised the important role of the Ukrainian Diaspora in the U.S., the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and its Washington bureau in particular, in forming and solidifying the coalition of U.S. Senators and Congressmen working tirelessly to help Ukraine in word and deed during the time when our nation is facing unprecedented security challenges.
Those speaking at the solemn gathering, moderated by UNIS Director Michael Sawkiw, Jr., included also Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for the Affairs of Crimean Tatars Mustafa Dzhemilev, who highlighted in his remarks the constantly deteriorating human rights situation in Crimea and asked members of Congress to continue to apply every effort to facilitate restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and de-occupation of the Ukrainian peninsular, Republican and Democratic members of the U.S. Congress, as well as the first U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Roman Popadiuk.