INDIANAPOLIS (WOWO): Senators Dick Durbin and Dan Coats have reached an agreement on a bipartisan Senate resolution supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine and condemning recent Russian military aggression.

In a press release sent by Senator Coats' office, the senators said,

“Our resolution is indicative of the strong support in the Senate for isolating and punishing Russia. Now is a time for the United States to show leadership and action.”

The Durbin-Coats resolution:

·         Condemns the unprovoked and illegal Russian military seizure of the Ukrainian Crimea and demands the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces except as specifically allowed for by treaty;

·         Demands the immediate release of besieged Ukrainian security forces in Crimea, who have shown remarkable restraint under threat;

·         Warns that failure to do so or any additional military action against other areas of Ukraine will lead to swift and significant consequences in the Russian Federation’s relations with the United States and those nations who share our views;

·         Urges the President to use all appropriate economic elements of United States national power, in coordination with United States allies, including loan guarantees matched with requirements of international financial institutions regarding Ukrainian economic reforms and transparency, to strengthen the Ukrainian economy and protect the independence, sovereignty, and territorial and economic integrity of Ukraine;

·         Urges the President to use appropriate economic and diplomatic measures against those responsible for the the illegal seizure of Crimea;

·         Urges the President to propose to G–8 nations to suspend the Russian Federation, and to propose to our NATO allies to suspend operation of the NATO-Russia Council and suspend the Russian Federation’s military and diplomatic representation at NATO;

·         Condemns the economic coercion pursued by the Russian Federation beginning in July 2013 against Ukraine, Moldova, Lithuania, and other countries in the region in order to obstruct closer ties between the European Union and the countries of the Eastern Partnership and supports the people of Ukraine in their desire to forge closer ties with Europe;

·         Supports assisting Ukraine and United States allies in the region in gaining energy security in order to alleviate their vulnerability to the Russian Federation’s threats and manipulations;

·         Expresses its continuing support for democratic allies who regularly face aggression on their borders from the Government of the Russian Federation and supports enhanced security cooperation with, and security assistance to, states in Central and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine;

·         Encourages governments in Europe to take similar and coordinated actions to make it clear to the Government of the Russian Federation that violating the territorial integrity of sovereign nations will have swift and significant consequences;

·         Calls for the immediate acceptance of a credible international observer mission in Crimea and other parts of the Ukraine;

·         Calls on the Government of the Russian Federation to seriously engage with the Government of Ukraine in a political dialogue on a political and diplomatic path that respects Ukrainian sovereignty and the Crimea’s complex historic and ethnic makeup;

·         Supports the efforts of the Government of Ukraine to bring to justice those responsible for the acts of violence related to the anti-government protests that began on November 21, 2013;

·         Supports the efforts of the Government of Ukraine to recover and return to the Ukrainian state funds stolen by former President Yanukovych, his family, and other current and former members of the Government of Ukraine and elites; and

·         Calls upon the leadership of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to reconsider its decision to place World Cup 2018 matches in Russia.