WASHINGTON — Senator Ron Johnson’s (R-Wis.) resolution (S. Res. 72) calling on the president to prioritize and expedite the provision of defensive lethal aid to Ukraine and condemning attacks by Russian-backed rebels on civilians in Mariupol passed the Senate unanimously on Tuesday.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko spoke before a joint session of Congress on Sept. 18, 2014 and asked the United States for desperately needed aid, including military aid. He told Congress that Ukraine’s defense forces need more military equipment, both lethal and non-lethal, urgently. Blankets and night-vision goggles are important, Poroshenko said, “but one cannot win the war with blankets. Even more, we cannot keep the peace with a blanket.” 

Senator Johnson said this following the resolution’s passage:

“It is absolutely necessary that President Obama prioritize and expedite the provision of defensive lethal and non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine in light of the January attacks by Russian-backed rebels on the civilian population in Mariupol. I am pleased that Ranking Member Shaheen and I could work together to bring about bipartisan agreement on this in the Senate. The administration should now respond, providing Ukraine with what they desperately need.”

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