iNDICA NEWS BUREAU
Leading Indian American Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-8), member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Ro Khanna (D-CA-17) have strongly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and called upon the United States and its allies to act swiftly and stand with the Ukrainians in defense of their homeland, their freedom and their right to self-government.
Raja Krishnamoorthi said he joins “countless millions across the world in keeping the people of Ukraine in my prayers” as Russia’s President Vladimir Putin began his “unjustified, unprovoked and premeditated invasion”.
Despite the efforts of the Ukrainian government and the U.S. and its European allies to prevent bloodshed through diplomacy, “millions of lives are now in the balance because of Russian military aggression,” he said.
“We must join with democracies across the world to dramatically expand sanctions on Russia to hold its leaders accountable for the needless destruction and suffering they will cause, while coordinating with our NATO allies to stand firm in the face of any attack on our alliance,” Rep Krishnamoorthi said.
He warned that while none can say for certain what will follow, Russia will gain no security from this needless war as democracies across the world stand up to despotic militarism.
The Congressman, who was to be briefed on the crisis by Secretary of State Antony Blinken Thursday evening, also urged the Biden Administration to help ensure the safety of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, members of his democratically elected government, anti-Putin dissidents across the region, and the Ukrainian people.
“Even with Putin’s demonstrated record of complete disregard for international law and basic humanity, the targeted killing of elected leaders and the mass assassination of political dissidents would be especially insidious and criminal,” he warned. “We must and will hold all those engaged in these acts accountable for their atrocities.”
Khanna, in a separate statement, also said Putin would be responsible for the death and destruction that will continue so long as he continues “this assault on global peace and security”.
The Democrat from California pointed out that at the Munich Security Conference, the U.S. and its allies had reaffirmed their commitment to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty. “We are united against Putin and his oligarchs and I support the severe and immediate sanctions President Biden announced today to isolate Russia from the global financial system,” he said.
He also urged the Administration to welcome Ukrainian asylum seekers into the U.S. and help Ukrainian refugees around the world who are fleeing the war. “This is a dark moment in history, but the people of Ukraine are not alone,” Khanna said.
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