Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, issued the following statement today following Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s address to a joint session of Congress.

“Today my colleagues and I heard from President Poroshenko, who continues to face difficult and highly tense circumstances as Russia encroaches on Ukraine’s eastern territory. He sent an important message to Russia: ‘In Ukraine, you don’t build a democracy – it already exists. You just defend it.’

“Mr. Poroshenko noted Russia’s history of aggression, including more recently into Georgia in 2008. He expressed his grave concern that radical movements like that of the Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine will continue to threaten regional and global security. The challenges Ukraine faces are not just winning a war, he said, but building lasting peace and freedom for the Ukrainian people.

“I reject Russia’s military intervention into Ukraine, and I voted for H.R. 4278, the Ukraine Support Act. The House passed this bill to indicate U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty while denouncing Russia’s invasion and seizing of Crimea. I also support the sanctions that have been placed on certain Russian officials and economic sectors.

“Hearing this address was particularly important to me because my district is home to more than 10,000 Ukrainian-Americans.

“I have met with leaders of the Ukrainian-American community in my district to get their advice and guidance about the ongoing conflict. I share their serious concern for the lack of stability in Ukraine resulting from Russia’s military action. NATO recently criticized Russia for violating Ukraine’s sovereignty, and I agree it is long past time for Russia to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, support its unity, and recognize the legitimacy of its government,” Larsen said.

Washington state’s second Congressional district has the seventh highest number of people of Ukrainian ancestry among all Congressional districts, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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