U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

10/19/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/19/2026 17:11

ICYMI: Shaheen and Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Meet with President Zelenskyy, Reaffirm Congress’ Support for Ukraine

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after she and a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers met virtually with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy:

"I appreciated the opportunity to speak with President Zelenskyy today about Ukraine's ongoing fight against Putin's brutal war. Time and again, Congress has sent an unmistakable and overwhelmingly bipartisan message that America stands with Ukraine and against Putin's aggression. Yet, the Trump Administration continues to give Putin a financial lifeline and avoids holding him accountable for killing Ukrainian civilians. From Trump's disastrous Russian diesel 'deal' to refusing to impose sanctions Congress passed into law, this Administration is aligning itself on the wrong side of this war. I will work with my bipartisan colleagues in the Senate and House to hold accountable private sector entities seeking to profit from this illegal diesel 'deal' or that facilitate human rights abuses against Ukrainian civilians with the slowdown of Starshield.

"Putin only responds to strength. We must increase pressure on Russia-not Ukraine-and give Ukraine the support it needs to secure a just and lasting peace."

Shaheen was joined by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) along with additional bipartisan members of the House and Senate. The meeting comes as Russia continues to target civilian infrastructure in Kyiv, leaving roughly 550,000 families without power after ballistic missile strikes overnight.

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