11.14.23

Durbin Meets with Ukrainian Leaders to Discuss Emergency National Security Supplemental

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, met with the Ambassador of Ukraine, Oksana Markarova; Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak; and First Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Economy, Ms. Yulia Svyrydenko, to discuss President Biden’s national security supplemental funding request, which includes emergency funds for Ukraine, Israel, the Indo-Pacific, and humanitarian crises. 

In addition to Durbin, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, as well as U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Michael Bennet (D-CO) also joined.

“More than 20 months after Putin began his brutal, criminal invasion, Ukraine remains on the frontlines of democracy and the fight against tyranny.  During today’s meeting, I reiterated my support for Ukraine—and will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure we provide our Ukrainian friends with the resources and equipment necessary to prevail against Russian tyranny,” said Durbin.  “For a modest investment by U.S. standards, particularly compared to the costs of Russia succeeding, we are keeping hope and freedom alive in Ukraine.”

   

Photos of the meeting are available here.

Today on the Senate floor, Durbin joined members of the Senate Democratic Caucus in opposing U.S. Senator Roger Marshall’s (R-KS) request for unanimous consent (UC) to pass House Republicans’ partisan aid package, which includes funding forIsrael but neglects to support Ukraine in its efforts to stave off Putin’s unrelenting attacks and conditions support for Israel by offsetting other federal funding.  In his remarks, Durbin emphasized his support for passing security funding for Israel while reminding his colleagues that Ukraine is in dire need of its allies’ support.

At a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing recently, Durbin questioned Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin about the supplemental request and emphasized how detrimental it would be for the NATO alliance if the United States did not continue to financially support Ukraine. 

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