Sunday, November 25, 2018

Ukraine to Declare a 'State of War' After Russia Attacks Ukrainian Navy

A photograph released by Russia's FSB security agency apparently showing an altercation between Russian and Ukrainian ships off the coast of Crimea on November 25.

Ukrainian-Americans Call For International Condemnation of Russia 

The following statement was submitted by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA).

On November 25, 2018, Ukrainian Naval vessels were attacked by Russian forces as they were departing from the area of the Kerch Strait and moving back into the Black Sea. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced that "Russian special forces have taken over some [Ukrainian] ships." Over a half-dozen Ukrainian service members have been injured, and up to 20 have been taken captive by Russian forces.

This was a premeditated and deliberate act of aggression against Ukraine by Russia. Once again, Russia continues to flaunt international law, and this blatant disregard of such demands the strengthening of targeted economic sanctions against the Russian Federation until they fully comply with their international obligations.

The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), the nation’s largest representative body of Americans of Ukrainian descent, calls upon the United States and the international community to voice their strong condemnation of such attacks and immediately take the following decisive measures:

Demand that Russia immediately release all Ukrainian prisoners of war as well as over 70 Ukrainian political prisoners illegally jailed in Russian custody

Withdraw Russian president Vladimir Putin's invitation to the 2018 G20 Buenos Aires summit on 30 November – 1 December

Call for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to condemn Russia’s actions


It is in the national security interests of the United States to assist Ukraine in defense of its national security and territorial integrity and in its efforts to institutionalize democratic and economic reforms. The Ukraine Freedom Support Act, signed into law in 2014, declares unambiguously that the United States will “assist the government of Ukraine in restoring its sovereignty and territorial integrity in order to deter the government of the Russian Federation from further destabilizing and invading Ukraine and other independent countries.” As such, UCCA maintains its position since 2014 that the United States should:

Demand withdrawal of covert and overt Russian forces and equipment from Ukraine and compliance with cease-fire agreements

Significantly strengthen sanctions - and specifically sectoral sanctions – against the Russian Federation for this latest brazen act of aggression against Ukraine’s sovereignty, including banning Russia from the SWIFT international payments system

Respond to the changes to Ukraine's Constitution regarding the strategic course for obtaining full membership of Ukraine in the EU and NATO with increased military and economic support

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