[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 186 (Tuesday, November 27, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 709--CONDEMNING RUSSIA'S PROVOCATIVE ACTIONS IN THE 
                KERCH STRAIT AGAINST THE UKRAINIAN NAVY

  Mr. JOHNSON (for himself, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Barrasso, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. 
Portman, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Markey, Mr. Cotton, and Mr. Moran) submitted 
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 709

       Whereas, on November 24, 2018, Ukraine commemorated the 
     85th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933, known 
     as the Holodomor, in which millions of Ukrainians perished 
     under Soviet policies designed to break Ukrainian resistance 
     to Soviet communist rule and forced collectivization;
       Whereas, on November 25, 2018, Russian Federation military 
     forces fired on three Ukrainian Navy vessels attempting to 
     transit the Kerch Strait between the Black Sea and the Sea of 
     Azov;
       Whereas the three Ukrainian ships were seized by Russian 
     Federation forces, and Ukrainian government officials stated 
     that at least six of the 24 captured Ukrainian sailors were 
     wounded in the incident;
       Whereas the Russian Federation's seizure of the Ukrainian 
     vessels is a blatant violation of its commitments under 
     international law and a 2003 Agreement between the Russian 
     Federation and Ukraine on cooperation in the use of the sea 
     of Azov and the strait of Kerch;
       Whereas, on May 15, 2018, the Government of the Russian 
     Federation completed construction of a road and rail bridge 
     over the Kerch Strait, connecting Russia with Crimea in 
     Ukraine, and has systematically harassed Ukrainian and 
     international shipping transiting between the Black Sea and 
     the Sea of Azov;
       Whereas, in March 2014, Russian Federation forces invaded 
     and occupied Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, in full 
     contravention of the Russian Federation's commitments under 
     the United Nations Charter and the Helsinki Final Act 
     condemning the threat or use of force as means of altering 
     international borders;
       Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has 
     increased considerably its military presence in occupied 
     Crimea since 2014, including increasing military personnel to 
     an estimated 28,000-29,000, adding six new submarines and 
     three frigates to the Black Seas Fleet, and deploying S-400 
     long-range air defense battalions;
       Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation continues 
     its efforts to destabilize eastern Ukraine, bears 
     responsibility for the ongoing conflict that has cost the 
     lives of over 10,000 Ukrainians, and recently orchestrated 
     illegitimate leadership elections in the Luhansk and Donetsk 
     regions;
       Whereas section 1234 of the National Defense Authorization 
     Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115-91; 131 Stat. 1659) 
     authorizes the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the 
     Secretary of State, to provide appropriate security 
     assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces; and
       Whereas, on July 25, 2018, Secretary of State Michael 
     Pompeo issued the Crimea Declaration, cementing United States 
     nonrecognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea and calling 
     upon Russia to uphold its commitments under international law 
     regarding the territorial integrity of other states: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) strongly condemns the provocative actions of the 
     Government of the Russian Federation in the Kerch Strait 
     against the Ukrainian navy;
       (2) calls upon the Government of Russia to immediately 
     release all Ukrainian crew members and vessels and to cease 
     its harassment of Ukrainian and international shipping 
     transiting the Kerch Strait;
       (3) stresses that the behavior of the Government of the 
     Russian Federation is destabilizing for the entire region and 
     invites further escalations;
       (4) urges members of the international community to unite 
     in opposition to the actions of the Government of the Russian 
     Federation in the Kerch Strait, as they infringe upon 
     fundamental principles of international law affecting all 
     nations;
       (5) welcomes and affirms Secretary of State Pompeo's Crimea 
     Declaration announcing United States policy to never 
     recognize Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea;
       (6) reaffirms the unwavering support of the people and the 
     Government of the United States for the people of Ukraine and 
     Ukraine's territorial integrity; and
       (7) calls upon the President and the entire Administration 
     to implement an all-of-government approach to forcefully 
     express opposition to the Russian Federation's November 25, 
     2018, attack on Ukrainian forces at every opportunity.

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