WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio), both members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Wednesday applauded passage of their amendment to provide $50 million in non-military assistance to Ukraine. The bipartisan amendment passed as part of the Ukraine Security Partnership Act of 2021 (S. 814).

“As Russian forces amass along the Ukrainian border, it is more important than ever that the United States increase our political, economic and security assistance to support Kyiv’s ability to defend itself. Doing so also cements the U.S.-European alliance, and sends a clear message to Putin that we will stand side-by-side with Ukraine during this precarious time. I’m glad our bipartisan amendment to provide additional non-military funding to Ukraine passed the committee today, and I look forward to getting this legislation signed into law,” said Murphy. 

“This amendment provides critical support for Ukraine at an important time as Russian troops continue to flow to Ukraine’s eastern border, and the Ukrainian sovereign territory of Crimea” said Portman. “We must send every signal to Moscow and the international community that the United States stands with Ukraine, and this amendment does that by providing funding for a range of monetary and international assistance.” 

In March, Murphy along with Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) on Wednesday re-introduced the Ukraine Security Partnership Act to provide security assistance and strategic support to Ukraine.

This bill, which passed unanimously in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today, includes key provisions to:

·       Requires a report on U.S. diplomatic support for Ukraine over the next five years;

·       Encourages the Department of State to establish a working group on Ukraine with relevant European allies;

·       Encourages the administration to appoint a special envoy for Ukraine to serve as the U.S. liaison for the Normandy Format peace negotiations and to facilitate dialogue between Black Sea countries;

·       Authorizes up to $300 million per year of foreign military financing to Ukraine, subject to certifications, including the authority to provide Ukraine with lethal military assistance;

·       Requires a Department of Defense and State Department report on the capability and capacity requirements of Ukraine’s armed forces, a plan to supply U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, and any recommendations;

·       Expedites the transfer of excess defense articles to Ukraine, and calls for a strategy to encourage partner nations to do the same; and

·       Authorizes $4 million per year to train Ukrainian military officers through the International Military Education and Training.

Murphy and Portman’s amendment would authorize $50 million from FYs 2022-2026 to:

·       Strengthen Ukraine’s cyber security, cyber resilience and intellectual property enforcement.

·       Combat corruption, improve the rule of law, and otherwise strengthen independent legal institutions.

·       Respond to the humanitarian crises caused or aggravated by the invasion and occupation of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, including internally displaced persons

·       Improve participatory legislative processes in Ukraine

·       Build the capacity of civil society, independent media, human rights and other nongovernmental institutional organizations in Ukraine.

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