Russia’s War on Ukraine: U.S. Policy and the Role of Congress

Summary:

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale
invasion of Ukraine, a country Russia first invaded in 2014
and has partially occupied for a decade. The war has led to
hundreds of thousands of killed or wounded, according to
U.S. and other estimates, and the displacement of more than
nine million people as of May 2024, according to
international humanitarian organizations. In 2024, Russia
has conducted multiple offensives, seizing some additional
Ukrainian towns and settlements. Ukraine continues to
wage defensive operations, bolstered by military assistance
mainly from the United States and Europe.

Leaders of the United States, NATO, the European Union
(EU), and other partners have called the war against
Ukraine “unprovoked and unjustified.” The United States,
in coordination with the EU, NATO, and others, has
provided substantial assistance to Ukraine, imposed a series
of increasingly severe sanctions on Russia and its enablers,
and sought to promote accountability for Russian war
crimes. To deter further aggression, the United States and
NATO have increased their military presence in Central and
Eastern Europe. In the United States, policymakers and
observers continue to consider the impact of assistance to
Ukraine, the effectiveness of sanctions, the course of the
conflict, and the implications of a protracted war. Congress
may consider additional actions and oversight with respect
to these and related issues.

Further Information:

This In Focus was first published in December 2022. The latest update was published in June 2024. All updates can be checked on the Primary Source link provided below.