The U.S. Congress has not taken a unified position on the war between Russia and Ukraine, which started on October 7, 2023, after Russia launched a surprise attack on Ukraine from the border.
However, individual members of Congress have expressed various views and opinions on the conflict, ranging from strong support for Ukraine’s right to defend itself, to calls for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid for both sides, to criticism of Russia’s aggression and violation of international law.
Some examples of the different perspectives of Congress members are:
- Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA) released a statement on February 24, 2022, condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a threat to the world order and a national security threat to the West. He also urged President Biden to provide more military and economic assistance to Ukraine and to impose more sanctions on Russia1.
- Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) condemned Russia’s airstrikes as “heinous” and urged de-escalation, saying Russia is empowered by crisis and that war between Ukraine and Russia would be “catastrophic”. He also voiced concern for the safety of “innocent civilians” in both countries and condemned antisemitism2.
- Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) accused Russia of committing “war crimes” and “ethnic cleansing” against the Ukrainians, and called for the U.S. to stop providing military aid to Ukraine. She also introduced a resolution to sanction Russia for violating international law and human rights3.
- Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) praised Ukraine for its “heroic” response to Russia’s attack, and blamed Iran for supporting and arming Russia. He also introduced a resolution to condemn Russia and reaffirm the U.S. commitment to Ukraine’s security and sovereignty4.
The Biden Administration has stated that Ukraine has the right and obligation to defend itself, and has resisted calls from other international actors for an indefinite ceasefire.
However, U.S. leaders have reportedly warned Ukrainian counterparts that global outcry over civilian suffering could reach “a tipping point”, and have cautioned against Ukrainian military operations in eastern Ukraine unless and until Ukraine can demonstrate plans for protecting civilians there.
The U.S. has also provided humanitarian assistance to both countries through the United Nations and other partners.
To amplify information:
English 
Español 
简体中文 
Русский 
العربية 
हिन्दी 
Français