A coalition of Democratic and Republican senators introduced a resolution on Tuesday affirming support for Ukraine as it confronts Russian military forces, timing the measure to precede President Donald Trump’s nationally televised State of the Union address by a matter of hours.
The resolution was led by Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who serve as co-chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group. An early copy of the resolution reviewed by reporters shows it carried at least 26 additional co-sponsors, with the signatories split roughly evenly between Republicans and Democrats.
The text of the resolution contains several specific provisions. It offers condolences for Ukrainian lives lost in the conflict and commends the bravery of Ukrainian people. It also encourages robust cooperation among NATO allies and stipulates that any negotiated settlement must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Importantly, it calls for Ukraine to be included as the central party to discussions concerning its own future.
Although non-binding and lacking the force of law, the resolution is intended to signal strong backing for Kyiv among a broad swath of U.S. lawmakers. The timing of its release on Tuesday was noted as a deliberate signal from members of Congress that they seek increased support for Ukraine from the president.
The filing comes while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s government faces growing U.S. pressure to secure a peace deal. The resolution does not change U.S. legal obligations or policy by itself, but it represents a formal expression of congressional sentiment on the conflict and on the terms any settlement should meet.
Tuesday’s State of the Union address coincided with the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, an anniversary the resolution’s sponsors referenced indirectly by the choice of timing. The conflict remains ongoing, and the Republican president has in the past stated he could end the war "in 24 hours," a pledge that has not been fulfilled to date.
Members of Congress from both parties have pressed the president to increase assistance to Kyiv. Lawmakers have called on the administration to deliver the financial and military aid that Congress has authorized over recent years, urging that such packages be sent in full to support Ukraine’s defense and diplomatic position.
Leading Democratic co-sponsors of the resolution included Senator Shaheen, who is the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Michael Bennet, Richard Durbin, Richard Blumenthal, Sheldon Whitehouse and Tim Kaine. Among Republicans listed as co-sponsors were former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Thom Tillis, John Curtis, Chuck Grassley, Roger Wicker, Jerry Moran, Dave McCormick and Susan Collins.
The resolution underscores the continued bipartisan interest in Ukraine within Congress and highlights specific expectations for any diplomatic outcome, while remaining a declarative, not statutory, instrument.