The crisis in Ukraine ignited a geopolitical crisis that experts have called the biggest conflict since the Cold War. Congress introduced 11 measures related to the crisis since the crisis began in November 2013, which included 5 resolutions in response to early protests by Ukrainians. Later, in response to Russian forces entering the Crimean Peninsula, Congress introduced 6 additional measures in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and economic stability.

1. 11 Congressional Ideas
for Ukraine
Population
44,291,413
(July 2014 est.)
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House Bills
7
Senate Bills
4
Total
11
Unemployment rate
8% (2013 est.)
Ethnicity
77.8%
Ukrainian
GDP per capita
$7,400
(2013 est.)
Russian 17.3%
Belarusian 0.6%
Moldovan 0.5%
Crimean 0.5%
Bulgarian 0.4%
Hungarian 0.3%
Romanian 0.3%
Polish 0.3%
Jewish 0.2%
Other 1.8%
Leading exports partners 2012
25.6%
Russia
5.4%
Turkey
4.2%
Egypt
Leading import partners 2012
32.4% 9.3%
China
8%
Germany

2. The crisis in Ukraine ignited a geopolitical crisis that experts
have called the biggest conflict since the Cold War. Congress
introduced 11 measures related to the crisis since the crisis
began in November 2013, which included 5 resolutions in
response to early protests by Ukrainians. Later, in response
to Russian forces entering the Crimean Peninsula, Congress
introduced 6 additional measures in support of Ukraine’s
sovereignty and economic stability.
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about this and other topics Congress is working on.
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Congress Supports Early Protests of Ukrainian
People with Five Resolutions:
The crisis was sparked in November 2013 when Ukraine’s then President Viktor Yanukovych
suspended talks toward a Ukraine-EU agreement in favor of a $15 billion loan from Russia. This
was widely seen as Russia buying influence over Ukraine’s future through its close relationship
with then President Yanukovych. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians responded with
peaceful protests for government accountability and closer ties with the European Union. The
crisis highlighted state level corruption and divisions between the pro-Europe native Ukrainian
speakers in the west and the ethnic Russian speakers living in eastern Ukraine.
During the early protests, the US Congress introduced 5 resolutions in support of democracy in
Ukraine. In November 2014, Representative Engel (D-NY) introduced House Resolution 402 to
support Ukraine and other countries in the region to partner with the European Union (EU), and
“calls on Russia to respect the rights of states to make their own sovereign choices with regard
to international partnerships.”
As Yanukovych government retaliated with a range of anti-democratic measures, Congress
introduced 4 more resolutions to condemn the measure and support Ukrainians’ right to
protest. Congress passed Senate Resolution 319 and House Resolution 447 to condemn the
violence and support a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Two additional resolutions related
to the crisis were introduced but not passed. Senator Menendez (D-NJ), Chair of the Foreign
Related Hearings
(1) March 6, 2014 Hearing held by House
Committee on Foreign Affairs: US Foreign
Policy Toward Ukraine
http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/
hearing-us-foreign-policy-toward-ukraine
Eric Rubin - Deputy Assistant
Secretary, Bureau of European and
Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department
of State
http://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/
FA00/20140306/101855/HHRG-113-FA00-
Wstate-RubinE-20140306.pdf
Paige Alexander - Assistant Administrator ,
Bureau for Europe and Eurasia at the U.S.
Agency for International Development
http://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/
FA00/20140306/101855/HHRG-113-FA00-
Wstate-AlexanderP-20140306.pdf
Daleep Singh - Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Europe and Eurasia at
the U.S. Department of the Treasury
http://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/
FA00/20140306/101855/HHRG-113-FA00-
Wstate-SinghD-20140306.pdf

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Relations Committee, introduced Senate Resolution 357, to express concern over the
government’s anti-democratic measures and use of paramilitary forces against civilians. In
addition, House Resolution 28 was proposed to condemn the Yanukovych government’s
persecution of political prisoners including Yulia Tymoshenko, a former President of Ukraine
and head of the “Orange Coalition.”
Six More Pieces of Legislation in Response
to Fall of Ukraine’s Government and Russia’s
Takeover of Crimea:
On February 20, 2014, the Yanukovych government escalated violence when Ukrainian
security forces fired live ammunition on anti-government protestors that had been camped
out in Kiev square. Hundreds died and thousands more were injured—more fatalities on than
any day since Ukraine’s struggle for independence. The next day, parliament condemned the
actions and stripped Yanukovych of his power. Yanukovych fled the capital having lost both
popular and political support.
Ukraine’s parliament voted in an interim government and set special elections for May 25,
2014. The interim government included some ultra-nationalist elements. In contrast with the
ousted former President Yanukovych, the Interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk is viewed
to have close ties with US and Europe. In response to the interim government in Kiev, some
pro-Russia demonstrations arose in eastern cities, such as Kharkiv and Donetsk. President
Putin rejected the legitimacy of the interim government and moved Russian troops into
Crimea. President Putin claims Russian troops are in Crimea to protect ethnic Russians during
the Ukrainian political crisis. The Crimean Peninsula is a semi-autonomous part of Ukraine
with a complicated history and strong ties to Russia. The military forces are additional to the
11,000 troops already on the bases Russia leases on the peninsula.
Crimean voted to break Crimea away from Ukraine and join Russia in a controversial
referendum was held on March 16, 2014. Congress introduced two resolutions and four bills
in response to Russia’s takeover of Crimea. Senate Resolution 370 and House Resolution
499 both condemn Russian military aggression into Ukraine and support the territorial
integrity of Ukraine. The resolution calls on the US and its allies to put international pressure
on Russia through a number of measures that include sanctions on Russian officials,
economic sanctions, and boycotting the upcoming G-8 summit.
(2) January 15, 2014 Hearing held by the
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations:
Implications of the Crisis in Ukraine
http://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/
business-meeting-and-implications-of-the-crisis-
in-ukraine-hearing
Victoria Nuland - Assistant Secretary,
Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs
at the U.S. Department of State
http://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/
doc/Nuland_Testimony1.pdf
Mr. Thomas Melia - Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State, Bureau of Democracy,
Human Rights, and Labor at the U.S.
Department of State
http://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/
doc/Melia_Testimony4.pdf
Dr. Zbigniew K. Brzezinski - Former U.S.
National Security Advisor Counselor and
Trustee at the Center for Strategic and
International Studies
* A closed hearing was held on February
25, 2014 by the U.S. Senate Committee
on Foreign Relations titled the Situation
in Ukraine. Hearings that are closed to
the public usually contain top secret
information. Victoria Nuland, Assistant
Secretary in the Bureau of European and
Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of
State testified.
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H.R. 4152, a bill to provide for the costs of loan guarantees for Ukraine, passed both the House
and Senate. H.R. 4278, the Ukraine Support Act, includes measures to strengthen civil society
and promote economic stability in Ukraine. It also authorizes sanctions directed at Russian
individuals involved in the recent political crisis threatening Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial
integrity. House passed H.R. 4278 on March 27, 2014. S. 2124 is similar to H.R. 4278 in some
ways, but also proposes changes to the US position with the International Monetary Fund and
sanctions for Ukrainians involved in the recent political crisis. Also, H.R. 4154 would deny US
visas to Russian officials until Russian military intervention in Ukraine has ceased.
1. H. Resolution 447 - Supporting the democratic and European aspirations of the people of
Ukraine, and their right to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear. (Passed
2/10/2014) e
2. S. Resolution 319 - A resolution expressing support for the Ukrainian people in light of
President Yanukovych’s decision not to sign an Association Agreement with the European
Union. (Passed 1/7/2014) e
3. S. Resolution 357 - A resolution expressing concern of undemocratic governance and the
abuse of the rights of individuals in Ukraine.e
4. H. Resolution 402 - Supporting the European aspirations of the peoples of the European
Union’s Eastern Partnership countries, and for other purposese
5. H. Resolution 28 - Condemning the persecution of political opposition leader Yulia
Tymoshenko as well as other political prisoners, among them former internal affairs
minister Yuri Lutsenko. e
6. S. Resolution 370 - A resolution supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine and
condemning Russian military aggression in Ukraine.e
7. H. Resolution 499 - Condemning the violation of Ukrainian sovereignty, independence,
and territorial integrity by military forces of the Russian Federation. (Passed 3/11/2014) e
8. H.R.4152 - To provide for the costs of loan guarantees for Ukraine (Passed in House,
3/6/2014) e
9. H.R.4154 - To deny visas and entry to the United States to officials and employees of the
Government of the Russian Federation due to the Russian military intervention in Ukraine,
and for other purposes. e
10. H.R. 4278 - Ukraine Support Act (Passed in House, 3/27/2014) e
11. S. 2124 - Support for the Sovereignty, Integrity, Democracy, and Economic Stability of
Ukraine Act of 2014 e
Source
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/
the-world-factbook/geos/up.html
Supplementary Data:
Population: 44,291,413 (July 2014 est.)
Ethnic groups: Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian
17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%,
Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%,
Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%, Polish
0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001
census)
GDP per capita: $7,400 (2013 est.)
GDP by sector (2013 est.): agriculture:
9.9%, industry: 29.6%, services: 60.5%
Unemployment rate: 8% (2013 est.)
Population below poverty line: 24.1% (2010)
Public debt: 40.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
Exports - partners: Russia 25.6%, Turkey
5.4%, Egypt 4.2% (2012)
Imports - partners: Russia 32.4%, China
9.3%, Germany 8%, Belarus 6%, Poland
4.2% (2012)