1.1A Senate resolution
1.2standing with the people of Ukraine in their time of trial against the Russian invasion.
1.3WHEREAS, independence is a cornerstone of the United States' history and the United States
1.4serves as a beacon of freedom and democracy. The world has become an interconnected and
1.5globalized society and the United States stands in firm opposition of forces that threaten freedom
1.6and democracy anywhere in the world, at home and abroad; and
1.7WHEREAS, following the collapse of the U.S.S.R., Ukraine declared independence from
1.8Moscow on August 25, 1991; and
1.9WHEREAS, Ukrainians overwhelmingly voted to make their independence official, approving
1.10the declaration in a referendum on December 1, 1991, by a landslide 92 percent of votes in favor,
1.11with over 84 percent of eligible voters turning out to vote; and
1.12WHEREAS, in 1996, Ukraine adopted a new constitution that established a governmental
1.13system with a separation of powers into a legislative, executive, and judicial branch. Ukraine is
1.14considered a developing democracy that is working to decrease the high rates of poverty and
1.15corruption within the county; and
1.16WHEREAS, Ukraine is a member of the United Nations and is an important part of the global
1.17economy. Ukraine is considered the "bread basket" of Europe and accounts for 12 percent of the
1.18world's total wheat exports and 16 percent of the world's corn exports; and
1.19WHEREAS, Ukraine has a rich history and culture. Ukrainian, the official language of
1.20Ukraine, is a beautiful and melodic language with a highly developed literature; and
1.21WHEREAS, Ukrainians have made many notable contributions to art, science, and literature.
1.22Ukrainian culture includes beautiful folk music and traditional dances that differ by region and are
1.23accompanied by traditional folk instruments such as the bandura, a variety of flutes and string
2.1instruments, drums and rattles, the bagpipe, the hurdy-gurdy, the jaw harp, and the hammered
2.2dulcimer; and
2.3WHEREAS, since Ukraine's declaration of independence, tensions have remained high
2.4between Ukraine and Russia. Russia has continued to seek to influence and exert power over Ukraine
2.5by interfering with Ukraine's government and political processes; and
2.6WHEREAS, in 2014, Russia invaded and annexed the Ukrainian region of Crimea and
2.7supported violent separatist movements in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine; and
2.8WHEREAS, in autumn of 2021, Russia began to escalate tensions and amass troops on the
2.9boarder of Ukraine, in what Russia claimed to be military training exercises; and
2.10WHEREAS, despite months of diplomatic talks and warnings from the United States and
2.11other countries that severe sanctions would be imposed if Russia were to invade Ukraine, Russia's
2.12military launched a comprehensive invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022; and
2.13WHEREAS, close to one million refugees have fled Ukraine since the start of the invasion,
2.14hundreds of Ukrainian civilians have been killed, and thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have been
2.15killed and wounded defending their homeland; and
2.16WHEREAS, the people of Ukraine, in the face of extreme hardship and unrest, demonstrate
2.17the resiliency of the human spirit and continue to courageously fight to protect their culture,
2.18homeland, and families; and
2.19BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it condemns Russia's violent,
2.20unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, expresses deep sadness at the loss of life, and stands with the
2.21people of Ukraine in their time of trial.
2.22BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare a copy
2.23of this resolution, to be authenticated by his signature and that of the Chair of the Senate Rules and
2.24Administration Committee, and transmit it to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.