_____________ joint resolution NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A joint resolution of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the state of montana SUPPORTING UKRAINE AND the UNITED STATES' POLICY AIDING UKRAINE.

WHEREAS, Ukraine has been a distinct and key center of eastern European cultures for centuries; and

WHEREAS, in 1917 the independent state of Ukraine was established but was crushed by Communist Russia and incorporated into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1922; and

WHEREAS, on January 21, 1990, more than 300,000 Ukrainians called for unity and independence from the Soviet Union by forming a human chain between the cities of Kyiv and Ivano-Frankivsk; and

WHEREAS, on December 1, 1991, more than 90% of Ukrainian citizens voted in a national referendum in support of independence, with majorities in every region, establishing the nation of Ukraine; and

WHEREAS, in February and March 2014, the Russian Federation invaded the peninsula of Crimea, illegally annexing the region from Ukraine, held a sham referendum, and claimed the territory to be a part of Russia; and

WHEREAS, beginning in April 2014, the Russian Federation invaded the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine instigating violence, stoking conflict, arming separatists, and spreading disinformation on Ukrainian soil; and

WHEREAS, since February 2015, Russia has continued to fail to live up to its agreements under the Minsk agreements and the Russian-backed war in the Donbas has claimed approximately 14,000 lives; and

WHEREAS, on February 24, 2022, Russian forces, enabled by Belarus, launched its unprovoked full-scale invasion of the peaceful, independent country Ukraine; and

WHEREAS, it is the right of all countries to decide their own future, foreign policy, and security arrangements free from outside interference or coercion; and

WHEREAS, on February 25, 2022, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization condemned "in the strongest possible terms Russia's horrifying attack on Ukraine", called on Russia "to turn back from the path of violence and aggression", and reaffirmed an "iron-clad" commitment to mutual defense; and

WHEREAS, the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Canada joined with the United States and committed to coordinated economic sanctions, including severe restrictions, against Russia's Central Bank and full-blocking sanctions against Vladimir Putin; and

WHEREAS, United States leadership is integral to nations around the world in condemning and imposing costs on the Russian Federation for its illegal, full-scale, renewed invasion; and

WHEREAS, since the invasion began, Russian forces have targeted and bombed nonmilitary targets, murdered noncombatant civilians, kidnapped, tortured, and imprisoned Ukrainian citizens, and continue to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity; and

WHEREAS, the United States, along with allies in Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and others around the world, has been actively responding to Russia's unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine with critical military, humanitarian, and financial support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

That the 68th Legislature of the State of Montana:

(1)        supports the Ukrainian people and their government in their war against Russian aggression;

(2)        supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity;

(3)        backs the continued use of sanctions, in coordination with United States allies and partners, to fully isolate the Putin regime economically for its unprovoked aggression against Ukraine;

(4)        urges the United States and its allies and partners to continue delivering defensive security assistance and weapons to help defeat armored, airborne, and other threats to Ukraine;

(5)        reaffirms Montana's support for the security of United States allies and the ironclad commitment to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization;

(6)        supports working with Europe and international partners to bolster Europe's energy security and reduce its dependence on Russian energy imports;

(7)        recognizes the critical importance of maintaining United States energy independence for the benefit of the American people and United States allies;

(8)        declares that the war in Ukraine, a democratic country, is the frontline of democracy and freedom versus authoritarianism represented by Putin's Russia;

(9)        comprehends that dictators and authoritarians are watching the world's response to Putin's war against Ukraine and learning lessons for their own aggressive actions domestically and abroad, thereby making a strong and united response important to deter the expansion of territory by the use of military force beyond this crisis; and

(10)      stands steadfastly, staunchly, and proudly behind the Ukrainian people in their fight against the authoritarian Putin regime.