WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs, released the following statement after the Senate voted to pass legislation to provide aid to Ukraine and impose sanctions against Russian and Ukrainian officials responsible for challenging Ukraine’s sovereignty:

With this vote, the United States Senate sent a powerful message both to the people of Ukraine and to the Russian officials responsible for its invasion of and illegal annexation of Crimea. We stand with Ukraine in its continuing struggle.

This winter, the Ukrainian people boldly took to the streets to demand a corruption-free government and a future of partnership with Europe rather than control from Moscow. They asked for the support of the United States, and today the Senate answered.

This legislation will authorize the U.S. to join with our European partners in offering an economic lifeline to Ukraine that will stabilize its economy, while also requiring that they make the tough economic reforms necessary to prosper in the long run. 

Russia invaded Ukraine because they didn't believe consequences would be handed down from the rest of the world community. Today’s vote proves Moscow wrong. The American people stand united with Ukraine and no matter what happens in Crimea, with this economic support, the remaining 43 million Ukrainians are closer to European integration, rendering Russian efforts to rebuild its empire null and void.