WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee; Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; and Jim Himes (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence were joined by Members of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus Reps. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), former Majority Leader; Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus; and Bill Keating (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Europe Subcommittee in issuing the following joint response to the Trump Administration’s initial 28-point proposal for ending Russia’s war on Ukraine.
“The Administration’s attempt to impose a pro-Russian, one-sided ‘peace’ deal on Ukraine is both a policy nightmare and morally bankrupt. Pressuring Ukraine while giving aid and comfort to Russia is wrong. Forcing Ukraine to give up more of its own territory, including some that Russia doesn’t even hold, is unacceptable. Crippling the Ukrainian Armed Forces would all but guarantee another Russian invasion once Moscow rebuilds its forces, further threatening NATO. Echoing Putin’s baseless accusations of Nazism amplifies Kremlin disinformation and provides Russia with a convenient excuse to claim Ukraine has violated this imposed edict.
“The Putin wing of the Administration cannot be allowed to abandon American interests by forcing Ukraine into an unjust and impossible-to-maintain surrender. Instead, after months of Ukraine’s success in further weakening Russia’s economy and military, the President should direct his National Security staff that ‘peace through strength’ does not mean copying Russian talking points to extort Ukraine into surrender. Such a capitulation would only lead to more attacks by Putin and encourage similar attacks against other peaceful democracies, further threatening global stability and undermining the national security of the United States.
“The best guarantor of peace going forward will be a well-armed Ukraine that can capably defend itself against a violent and untrustworthy Russia. What has reportedly been released as a potential counteroffer, and was developed with Ukraine and European allies over the weekend, is vastly closer to what an achievable peace agreement would look like. We urge the administration to abandon its initial plan to force Ukraine into capitulation and to continue its discussions with Ukraine and European allies. We look forward to supporting such efforts.”
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