Press Release
Posted:
St. Helena – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) released the following statement in recognition of the one-year mark of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“One year ago, Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale illegal invasion of Ukraine, the largest land war in Europe since World War II. Over the last 12 months, the Ukrainian people have withstood a brutal assault on democracy and freedom. The resilience of the Ukrainian people is inspiring, and the bravery and courage of President Zelenskyy continues to show that Ukraine is not backing down. The United States must not back down from our commitment to democracy, and our country must continue to stand unified with Ukraine against autocracy and this blatantly illegal attack. I am proud to have voted for legislation to provide Ukraine with the resources they need to repel this invasion.
“The last 12 months have seen countless atrocities committed by Russian forces. These crimes against humanity are abhorrent, and those who perpetrate these war crimes must be held accountable. Russia has bombed schools, hospitals, and infrastructure in an attempt to grind down the will of the Ukrainian people — but in the face of these atrocities, Ukraine has fought back.
“Putin expected to roll through Ukraine and take Kyiv, but as President Biden’s recent visit to the Ukrainian capital demonstrated, Kyiv is standing strong. This assault prompted us to answer a fundamental question: would we stand up for the sovereignty of nations? One year later, democracy stands tall, NATO stands tall, and Ukraine stands tall.”