US House Committee on Foreign Affairs approves resolution on countering Russian aggression in Ukraine
The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the US House of Representatives has approved a resolution on measures to counter Russian aggression in Ukraine. The resolution also mentions the provision of assistance to Ukraine in carrying out democratic reforms and strengthening sanctions against Russia, in connection with the annexation of Crimea. This was reported by the Voice of America.
The bill was introduced by Congressman Eliot Engel, a Democrat. The document refers to the statement by the US State Department from 1940 regarding the non-recognition of the Soviet Union’s annexation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. This position remained in force until these countries gained independence in 1991. The bill states that the United States, de jure and de facto, does not recognize the Crimean Peninsula as Russian territory.
The resolution provides for the extension of sanctions against Russia, introduced on April 6, 2014. According to the bill, the sanctions can be lifted only by special order of the US President, or if “Ukraine's sovereignty over the Crimea will be restored, or if the status of the Crimea will be resolved under international control, in order to satisfy the interests of the democratically elected government of Ukraine.”
After its adoption, the resolution was sent to the House of Representatives.