WASHINGTON, DC – In a show of solidarity with the people of Ukraine, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved several key pieces of legislation this week designed to inflict greater costs on Russia as a result of the continued violence in Ukraine.  The new measures hold the Kremlin accountable and provide President Biden with streamlined authority to provide military equipment to Ukraine.

U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, backed the measures and says they are all the more urgent in light of the horrific scenes of violence perpetrated against civilians.

“Vladimir Putin must be held accountable for the atrocities committed during this unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.  By ratcheting up sanctions, delivering security assistance, and further isolating Putin from the civilized world, the United States is committed to ensuring that Putin pays a steep price for the barbaric bloodshed he unleashed.  Taken together, these measures will deliver severe consequences to Putin and take a bite out of the Kremlin’s ability to wage this illegal and immoral invasion,” said Reed.

This week, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act.  This initiative provides President Joe Biden with streamlined authority to lend or lease defense articles to the Ukrainian government.

Congress has already approved over $14 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. 

Additionally, the Senate unanimously voted to ban the import of Russian oil and energy products and suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus. 

The U.S. House of Representatives passed bills to suspend trade relations and ban Russian energy products, which now go to the President’s desk to be signed into law.  Together, these measures will further undermine Putin’s ability to wage war against the people of Ukraine.