BySenators Salomon, Fortunato, Valdez, Van De Wege, Lovick, Pedersen, Hansen, Padden, Braun, Boehnke, Cleveland, Wagoner, Liias, Hunt, Hasegawa, Billig, Randall, Wellman, Schoesler, Short, Gildon, Mullet, Shewmake, Saldaña, Kuderer, Stanford, and Holy

WHEREAS, The people of Washington state and the people of Ukraine share a commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law; and

WHEREAS, Washington state is home to over 80,000 people with Ukrainian heritage and one of the largest populations of Ukrainian immigrants among the 50 states; and

WHEREAS, Many Ukrainians immigrated to Washington state fleeing Soviet persecution for their beliefs and seeking personal and religious freedoms in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The state of Washington has welcomed over 20,000 Ukrainians since February of 2022 and continues to be a welcoming state; and

WHEREAS, Ukrainians and Ukrainian Americans in Washington state have enriched our communities through their leadership and contributions in agriculture, business, academia, government, and the arts; and

WHEREAS, On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale aggression against Ukraine, in an escalation of the war unleashed in 2014, which became the largest attack on a European nation since World War II; and

WHEREAS, This war on Ukraine has killed tens of thousands of Ukrainian servicemembers and civilians, displaced millions of Ukrainians, and has caused an urgent international humanitarian crisis; and

WHEREAS, President Putin has denied the existence of Ukraine and seeks to overthrow the democratically elected government of Ukraine; and

WHEREAS, The people of Ukraine are now engaged in a war to defend their independence and democratic path of development and lives;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognize the democratic values shared by the people of Washington state and the people of Ukraine; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate express its deepest sympathies for all Ukrainian Americans, especially those with loved ones in harm's way; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate condemn the unprovoked Russian war against Ukraine and reiterate its support for peace, diplomacy, and an immediate end to the Russian invasion; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate commend the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people in their pursuit of sovereignty and democracy and reaffirm its support of Ukrainian citizens here in Washington state and abroad.