Senate GOP blocks Ukraine support resolutions, citing Trump peace efforts

The resolutions, authored by Democrats Michael Bennet, Chris Van Hollen, Dick Durbin, Richard Blumenthal and Peter Welch, condemned Russian dictator "Vladimir Putin's brutal invasion of Ukraine and underscored the United States' support for Ukraine and Western democracy. 

The lawmakers hoped the resolutions would unite the Senate in bipartisan support for democracy and international law. 

"History has a very clear lesson: appeasing autocrats is like putting out a fire with gasoline. In the long run, it only makes the autocracy stronger and puts American citizens at risk," said Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in support of the documents.

Republicans, however, argued that the resolutions could have a "negative impact on the fragile process" of ongoing "tense negotiations" between Ukraine, the U.S., Europe and Russia.

"Personally, I fully agree with this opinion [expressed in the resolutions]. But this resolution will have absolutely no effect" on Vladimir Putin, said James Risch, Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, adding that only US President Donald Trump could achieve peace in Ukraine and that the proposed resolutions would not contribute to efforts to solve the problem.

A Ukrainian delegation will travel to Saudi Arabia for talks with U.S. officials, including U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 

A source said the meeting in Riyadh—part of negotiations for a peace deal—will include Ukrainian Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak and Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha. The meeting was agreed by Yermak and Waltz during their March 5 phone call.