Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022
A BILL
To counter the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and Eastern European allies, to expedite security assistance to Ukraine to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities, and to impose sanctions relating to the actions of the Russian Federation with respect to Ukraine, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
Appropriate congressional committees— The term appropriate congressional committees means the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
Defense article; defense service— The terms “defense article” and “defense service” have the meanings given those terms in section 47 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2794).
Sec. 3 Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
it is in the national security interests of the United States to continue and deepen the security partnership between the United States and Ukraine, and support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity;
aggression and malign influence by the Government of the Russian Federation and its proxies in Ukraine is a threat to the democratic sovereignty of Ukraine;
in coordination with the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and members of the international community, the United States should support the territorial integrity of Ukraine and oppose any effort by the Government of the Russian Federation to further encroach on Ukraine’s territory and independence;
the United States should work in close concert with allies and partners of the United States—
to support and expedite the provision of lethal and non-lethal assistance to Ukraine; and
to support and bolster the defense of Ukraine against potential renewed aggression and military escalation by the Government of the Russian Federation or through any of its proxies;
the United States and NATO should not cede to the demands of the Government of the Russian Federation regarding NATO membership or expansion;
economic and financial sanctions, when used as part of a coordinated and comprehensive strategy, are a powerful tool to advance United States foreign policy and national security interests; and
the United States, in coordination with allies and partners of the United States, should impose substantial new sanctions in the event that the Government of the Russian Federation or its proxies engages in escalatory military operations or other destabilizing aggression against Ukraine.
Sec. 4 Statement of policy
It is the policy of the United States that—
the United States will support the territorial integrity of Ukraine and other Eastern European countries against aggression by the Government of the Russian Federation or its proxies;
the United States will work to ensure the swift and ongoing provision of lethal and non-lethal security assistance to Ukraine, particularly so long as the Government of the Russian Federation or its proxies has armed forces within the territorial borders of Ukraine or stationed near Ukraine’s border;
the United States will continue to build the resiliency of Ukraine’s military and cyber defenses and bolster Ukraine’s ability to defend against aggression by the Government of the Russian Federation;
the United States will continue to improve Ukraine’s interoperability with NATO forces and seek to further enhance security cooperation and engagement with and among partners in the Black Sea and Baltic region;
the United States will work closely with regional partners, including those in the Black Sea region and the Baltic states, to strengthen Ukrainian and regional security; and
the United States is committed to a strong and unified NATO and will not cede to the demands of the Government of the Russian Federation regarding NATO membership.