Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Codify US-UKR Security Agreement

Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have introduced legislation to codify the 10-year bilateral security agreement US President Joe Biden signed with Ukraine in July 2023.

• The pair said in a statement: “The Stand with Ukraine Act treats Ukraine as a major non-NATO ally, providing expanded defense article transfers and security cooperation without any new security commitments.”
• Blumenthal said in a statement in Kyiv in July, previewing their plans: “We believe this will send an important signal to the world and show that the United States continues to stand with Ukraine."
• Blumenthal also noted in the statement: “President Zelensky was excited about and was committed to obtaining a strategic agreement with the U.S. regarding the more than a trillion dollars-worth of rare earth minerals owned by Ukraine," noting that an agreement with in this area, "would make the U.S. less dependent on foreign adversaries for rare earth minerals."
• The legislation is likely to be viewed as a means to 'Trump-proof' US support for Ukraine, as an incoming administration will not be bound by Biden's bilateral agreement unless it is ratified by Congress.
• During the presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump refused to commit to ongoing support for Ukraine, saying: “I want the war to stop. I want to save lives,” a position that is likely to irk Kyiv and conservative national security hawks.