TUCA Board Statement on Russia's Invasion on Ukraine and Call to Action

Dear TUCA members and friends,

We are all horrified by Russia's ongoing all-out invasion of Ukraine. Both in word and in action, Putin confirms his imperialist aspirations to subjugate Ukraine and the Ukrainian people and proves yet again that he seeks war and respects only strength.

We appreciate the United States and its allies showing unity in response to aggression from Russia, and for implementing the first wave of sanctions against Russia’s economy and Russian officials. We applaud the “bipartisan message of solidarity and resolve” from the US Senate leaders to support Ukraine “in this dark hour.”

But we expect more. We call on the United States and allies to not pause there but to introduce more severe sanctions against Russia’s elite, including cutting Russia’s access to SWIFT; to significantly increase military and economic aid to Ukraine; to cancel the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline; and to reaffirm Ukraine’s progress toward joining NATO and EU. We call on the United Nations to send peacekeepers to Ukraine for the unbiased monitoring of the situation.

A major war in Ukraine will not stay in Ukraine. Not only lives and the future of 44 million Ukrainian are at stake, the future of the whole international security and stability is under attack.

You can help Ukraine in various ways:

* Call the White House (202) 456-1111 from 11am - 3pm and leave a message to support Ukraine (see text below).
* Send email to the White House by going to: whitehouse.gov/contact

Send the following message:
1. Demand that the US honor the Budapest Memorandum.
2. Demand that the US immediately put sanctions in place against Russia.
3. Demand a complete economic isolation of Russia.

Please share this with your friends (email, facebook, etc).

Respectfully,

Tidewater Ukrainian Cultural Association Board of Directors