The U.S. Senate has passed a resolution to support Kyiv and urging President Biden to “impose significant costs” if Russia invaded Ukraine
The Senate’s resolution, which passed on Thursday night by a voice vote, comes as senators prepare to take a break from duties, despite growing concern from U.S. officials, including President Biden, that an invasion by Moscow is imminent.
“By acting in bipartisan fashion today, the United States Senate sent a strong message to Russia and the world that we stand with Ukraine,”
Sen. Rob Portman said in a statement.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who sponsored the resolution with Mr. Portman, added that “by overwhelmingly voting in favour of this resolution, today the Senate spoke with one voice.”
“Democrats and Republicans are united and committed to supporting our Ukrainian partners against the Kremlin’s escalating violence and aggression. Putin will make a gross miscalculation and suffer the full weight of the U.S. Congress if he decides to further invade Ukraine,”
Shaheen said.
The Senate’s passage of the resolution, which was co-sponsored by roughly 40 senators, comes after Senate leadership and members of top committees released a joint statement which stated that if Russian President Putin escalated “his ongoing assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty, Russia must be made to pay a severe price.”
