Quigley Concludes Official Visit to Ukraine
WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) released the following statement following three days of meetings and travel within Ukraine:
"I was proud to join my colleagues on this bipartisan delegation to send a clear message that the United States stands with the Ukrainian people in their efforts to preserve a free and unified Ukraine. Considering Russia's actions in Crimea and its continuing interference in eastern Ukraine, we must continue to apply pressure to Russia through economic sanctions and encourage the international community to support Ukraine at this critical time. After seeing the situation firsthand, it's clear that diplomacy is working, and I strongly support Ukraine's efforts to hold free and fair elections to let the people of Ukraine determine their future."
Rep. Quigley traveled to Ukraine with a bipartisan delegation to assess the effect of ongoing U.S. efforts to support Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression following the illegal annexation of Crimea. The delegation met with acting President Oleksandr Turchynov and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
Last Monday, Rep. Quigley and the delegation met with Vice President Joe Biden to discuss the broad range of Ukraine policy issues, the challenge posed by Russia, and how U.S. energy policy could reduce Putin's energy grip on Ukraine and the rest of Europe. Also on Monday, Rep. Quigley visited and placed flowers at the Shrine to the Fallen, which honors the memories of the more than 100 Ukrainians shot and killed during pro-democracy protests earlier this year and the Babi Yar memorials, which commemorate the site of one of the largest Holocaust massacres.
Rep. Quigley places flowers at the Shrine of the fallen in Independence Square memorializing Ukrainians killed in the pro-democracy protests earlier this year.
On Tuesday, the delegation traveled to eastern Ukraine, where they met with many members of the Russian-speaking community in and around the city of Dnipropetrovsk. While in the East, the delegation met with Dnipropetrovsk Governor Igor Kolomoysky, Jewish community leaders, and a range of civil society leaders and volunteers.
Rep. Quigley (center back) and the congressional delegation at a press conference with Dnipropetrovsk Governor Kolomoysky.
In addition to the meetings with acting President Oleksandr Turchynov and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the delegation met with Russian-speaking and ethnically-Russian national legislators, other Ukrainian officials, and a broad range of major presidential candidates from across the political spectrum.
The delegation assessed efforts to expand the hours and quality of U.S. international broadcasting (Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) into eastern Ukraine to counter Russian propaganda. Congress recently passed, and the President signed, legislation to expand these broadcasts.
Other members of the bipartisan delegation included House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), Ranking Member Elliot Engel (D-NY), Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX), Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL), and Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-PA).
The Illinois 5th District and the city of Chicago are home to thriving Ukrainian and Polish communities that are deeply invested in protecting Ukraine's sovereignty and stopping further Russian aggression toward Eastern Europe.
Rep. Quigley is a member of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus and represents a thriving Ukrainian population in Illinois' 5th Congressional District. He recently spoke out against the violence during a meeting of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Illinois Division and has met with Ukrainian officials to address concerns voiced by the local Ukrainian community. In February, he called for targeted sanctions against the Ukrainian officials responsible for escalating the violence.