HOUSE VOICES SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE

DENVER, CO – The House today passed a resolution supporting Ukraine as the country continues to defend itself from Vladimir Putin and Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion.

“Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked and violent attack on the Ukrainian people threatens peace and security throughout Europe and must stop immediately,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton, who served in Afghanistan. “The Colorado General Assembly proudly stands with the people of Ukraine, who are giving it their all and bravely defending their country from this illegal Russian invasion. I am heartbroken by the casualties of this war and the destruction Putin has unleashed on the Ukrainian people, who are fighting to defend Europe and the fundamental values we hold dear – the right of self determination, freedom and independence.”

“The Colorado House proudly stands with the people of Ukraine as they defend their country from Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked, unjustified and violent attack on their nation,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “The entire World stands in awe of President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people who are defying all the odds and bravely fighting back against Putin’s forces. I support the swift action from the Biden Administration to galvanize our allies to send humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine and impose some of the toughest sanctions ever developed to bolster Ukraine, hold Putin accountable, and restore peace and security to Europe.”

The bipartisan SJR22-004, sponsored in the House by Representatives David Ortiz and Patrick Neville, condemns Vladimir Putin’s violent attack on the people of Ukraine and affirms the General Assembly’s steadfast support for the people of Ukraine and its democratically elected leaders.

The resolution reads in part:

WHEREAS, Ukraine deserves the support of every American and the entire international community as it defends itself from this unprovoked Russian invasion, the largest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War II; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventy-third General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly:

(1) Proudly stand alongside Ukraine, its people, and its leaders during this horrific and unnecessary war and vow to support Ukraine and hold Russia fully accountable for its catastrophic decision to (2) Condemn, in the strongest possible terms, Vladimir Putin's violent attack on the people of Ukraine and strongly endorse the swift and severe economic sanctions and stringent export controls that President Biden's administration has imposed on Russia; and

(3) Urge Russia to immediately cease its violent, illegal, and immoral assault upon Ukraine, end the needless bloodshed, and return to diplomacy and the rules-based international order that has ensured peace and prosperity for so many.

The full text of the resolution is below

WHEREAS, The post-war international security order, led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), has relied upon diplomacy, peace, and open communication over armed conflict to ensure prosperity and stability for over one billion people for more than 70 years; and

WHEREAS, Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Ukrainian people voted overwhelmingly to form a nation independent from Russia, building a democracy and a thriving country grounded in the rule of law; and

WHEREAS, In 2014, the pro-Western Euromaidan protest movement in Ukraine led to the resignation of authoritarian president Viktor Yanukovych, a brutal ally of Vladimir Putin, ushering in democratically elected leaders who have sought closer ties to the European Union and the United States; and

WHEREAS, The Russian Federation, seeking to block the free will of the Ukrainian people in their pursuit of security, peace, and prosperity through closer ties to the European Union and the United States, annexed territory from Ukraine in 2014 and instigated, supported, and supplied a deadly separatist war in Eastern Ukraine that has destabilized the region and killed thousands of civilians; and

WHEREAS, The Russian Federation deployed military assets to support the separatist militias in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, resulting in the reckless missile attack that downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 and killed 298 innocent civilians in 2014; and

WHEREAS, Vladimir Putin intentionally lied to his own people and to the global community to create a false pretext to invade and occupy Ukraine based on lies that Ukraine posed a threat to Russians and that falsely connected Ukraine and its political leaders to Nazism; and

WHEREAS, The Russian Federation violated international peace and security agreements that sought a peaceful solution in Eastern Ukraine and instead amassed hundreds of thousands of troops on Ukraine's border; and

WHEREAS, Vladimir Putin has now launched an unjust and unwarranted invasion upon the peaceful nation of Ukraine; and

WHEREAS, Russian soldiers are currently sweeping through the country, inflicting violence and terror upon millions of civilians and destroying homes, businesses, and properties; and

WHEREAS, Ukraine is a proud and honorable nation under siege, and the brutality of this unnecessary and violent war is an affront to both international law and common decency; and

WHEREAS, Ukraine has been a bulwark against Russian military aggression in Europe, and Vladimir Putin has said that his goal is to recreate the Soviet Union and may have intentions to threaten NATO allies with military force; and

WHEREAS, Vladimir Putin has sought to destabilize countries across Europe and interfere in other countries' elections and democracies, including the United States; and

WHEREAS, The United States has galvanized the international community and our allies to impose the strongest possible sanctions on Russia and its financial institutions in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine; and

WHEREAS, Colorado is home to thousands of Ukrainian Americans and to millions who care deeply for and stand strongly in support of the Ukrainian people; and

WHEREAS, Ukraine deserves the support of every American and the entire international community as it defends itself from this unprovoked Russian invasion, the largest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War II; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventy-third General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly:

(1) Proudly stand alongside Ukraine, its people, and its leaders during this horrific and unnecessary war and vow to support Ukraine and hold Russia fully accountable for its catastrophic decision to invade;

(2) Condemn, in the strongest possible terms, Vladimir Putin's violent attack on the people of Ukraine and strongly endorse the swift and severe economic sanctions and stringent export controls that President Biden's administration has imposed on Russia; and

(3) Urge Russia to immediately cease its violent, illegal, and immoral assault upon Ukraine, end the needless bloodshed, and return to diplomacy and the rules-based international order that has ensured peace and prosperity for so many.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Minority Leader of the United States Senate, and all members of Colorado's Congressional delegation.