US senators visit Odesa for first time since 2022, confirm bipartisan support for Ukraine
US Senators Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic Party, New Hampshire), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic Party, Rhode Island), Chris Coons (Democratic Party, Delaware), and Richard Blumenthal (Democratic Party, Connecticut) arrived in Odesa on Wednesday, where they reaffirmed unwavering, bipartisan support for Ukraine in the US Congress and among the American people.
This was reported to journalists by the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This is the first visit by a Senate delegation to Odesa since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022.
As noted in the report, during the visit, Senator Shaheen and her colleagues expressed "admiration for the immense courage and resolve of the Ukrainian people in the face of Russia’s war of aggression, which escalated sharply following Putin’s full-scale invasion in 2022."
Senator Shaheen and members of the delegation emphasized the urgent need for Congress to implement tough sanctions against Russia and provide additional support to Ukraine to force Putin to the negotiating table.
Delegation members stressed that the Kremlin continues to "play for time" as Russian attacks cause catastrophic damage to civilians and critical infrastructure, and that the Donald Trump administration "must exert real pressure on Putin to achieve a lasting and just peace for Ukraine."
As emphasized by the Committee, in recent months Senator Shaheen has moved a number of bipartisan bills regarding sanctions against Russia through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including the STOP Russia and China Act and the SHADOW Fleet Sanctions Act.
During the visit, the delegation met with representatives of the Ukrainian government and military officials, Ukrainian border guards, heads of port and maritime security in the Odesa region, American companies in the fields of agriculture and logistics operating in Ukraine, as well as local religious, civic, and private sector leaders. The senators also received direct briefings from Ukrainian and US officials on air defense capabilities protecting Black Sea ports, the consequences of Russian drone and missile strikes on critical infrastructure, and ongoing challenges in the field of maritime security.
"Nearly four years after Putin’s full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian people continue to stand firm against endless waves of brutal Russian attacks on innocent civilians. It was an honor for me to lead this delegation and meet with Ukrainians from all walks of life who stand bravely on the front lines of freedom," Shaheen stated.
She emphasized that "the path to peace requires constant pressure on Vladimir Putin — not pressure on Ukraine to cede its sovereignty."
"It is long past time for President Trump to tighten sanctions against Russia, provide security assistance to Ukraine, and exert real pressure on Russia. Until President Trump gets tough, Putin will continue to lead him by the nose. If the President refuses to act, Congress must act. My bipartisan bill to combat Russia’s shadow fleet and its Chinese accomplices has already passed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with broad support. This bill is ready for consideration on the Senate floor as soon as we return next week and will pass with overwhelming bipartisan support. This will send an unmistakable signal to Putin that time is not on his side," the senator stated.
Senator Coons emphasized that "the Ukrainian people deserve our support for a just and lasting peace that will guarantee their sovereignty and security, not a temporary deal that would allow Russia to rearm and attack again in a few years."
"I am proud to travel this week with colleagues to thank the Ukrainian people for standing up for democracy and to assure them of our continued support in Congress — powerful intelligence, military, and financial assistance to their cause," he said.
Senator Blumenthal stated that "Putin is a monster-thug who only understands strength — and continues to play with America, even in the negotiations in Geneva."
"I was shocked to learn that Putin is deliberately targeting American businesses — bombing more than half of the 600 companies that have deployed operations here. It is ‘open hunting season’ on American factories and offices in Ukraine," he emphasized.
Senator Whitehouse stressed that he strongly supports the "bipartisan consensus that the US and the world must move aggressively to crack down on the shadow fleet of oil and gas tankers serving the Russian oil economy."
As reported, Senators Richard Blumenthal and Sheldon Whitehouse visited Kyiv on February 16. In particular, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the US senators, discussing the strengthening of sanctions against the Russian Federation, the situation at the front, and the negotiation process.
