Photos from the Senators’ Visit to Ukraine are Available HERE
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined a bipartisan, bicameral congressional delegation to the Munich Security Conference, the world’s leading forum for international security policy, led by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). He then joined U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) on a congressional delegation to Rzeszów, Poland, and Kyiv, Ukraine.
“For nearly three years, the Ukrainian people have fought bravely against Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked aggression, reminding us what it looks like to fight and die for democracy. Yet the Trump Administration’s shortsighted policies – such as freezing foreign assistance, calling for Russia’s readmission to the G7, and holding U.S.-Russia peace talks without Ukraine – will embolden Putin,” said Bennet. “The United States must remain steadfast in its support for Ukraine and ensure it has a place at the negotiating table, for the sake of the Ukrainian people, U.S. national security, and democracy around the world. Backing Ukraine today is our best preparation for and best deterrence against authoritarian aggression tomorrow.”
“Our delegation saw firsthand how Ukraine is holding the Russian military at bay at the gates of Europe,” said Shaheen. “Bolstering Ukraine’s leverage in this critical time means ending the self-imposed blockade of U.S. assistance, ensuring lasting security guarantees for Ukraine, taking advantage of Russia’s near economic collapse by imposing more sanctions and holding Vladimir Putin to account for the atrocities he has committed against humanity. War criminal Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted, and Ukraine, whose people have sacrificed so much, must have a place at its own negotiating table, backed by both Europe and the U.S. I am grateful to Chairman Stefanchuk for the opportunity to coordinate positions – and I am grateful to my Senate colleagues who joined me on this trip to once again show that U.S. support for Ukraine endures. Slava Ukraini!”
“Our delegation’s visit to Ukraine was a stark reminder of the bravery of the Ukrainian people in their fight against Russia’s unprovoked invasion,” said Tillis. “It’s clear that we must focus on securing a long-term peace agreement to end this war and ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty is respected. To do that, the U.S. must continue supporting Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and enable them to negotiate from a position of strength. It’s now time for all parties, including Ukraine, to come together to negotiate a resolution that brings an end to the suffering, stabilizes the region, and restores deterrence against any future threats to America, our Allies, and Partners.”
In Munich, Bennet met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Bećirović, and Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, among other senior leaders.
Bennet, Shaheen, and Tillis then traveled to Rzeszów, Poland, where they met with U.S. troops supporting Ukraine’s self-defense, including troops from Colorado’s Fort Carson, and civil society leaders.
In Ukraine, the delegation visited Ukrenergo, the state-owned electricity transmission system operator which remains a top target of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the town of Bucha to pay respects to civilians murdered and tortured while under Russian occupation in 2022. The group also met with civil society representatives responsible for documenting war crimes, assisting civilians, and returning kidnapped children to Ukraine, including the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, the Center for Civil Liberties, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, and Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk. Additionally, the delegation visited the Ohmatdyt Children’s Hospital, where a Russian missile struck in July, and the residential site of a recent drone attack in central Kyiv.
Bennet has been a consistent advocate for Ukraine since Russia launched its unjustified and unlawful invasion in 2022. Bennet previously visited Lviv, Ukraine with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate colleagues in February 2024.