NY Republican Leaders Call for Immediate State Emergency Resources for Ukraine

ALBANY, NY - New York State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and New York State Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay today sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul calling for state resources to be used to support the people of Ukraine. The letter directly asks the Governor to direct all state agencies to pool their emergency resources to be sent to Ukraine.

“The nation has seen pictures and videos of the destruction coming out of the Ukraine and we are all heartbroken. As a result of this war, over two million Ukrainians have been forced to leave their country and become involuntary refugees and over one million Ukrainians, who remain in the country, have been displaced from their homes. Unfortunately, this is likely only the beginning of an even larger refugee crisis,” wrote the Leaders.

At the end of February, Russia launched a military invasion of Ukraine, sparking full scale war between the two nations. Innocent civilians of Ukraine have become victims of an unjustified, inhumane, and barbaric war.

“As New Yorkers, we must stand up for freedom and stand against tyranny. Ukraine is a democracy with a population of over 43 million people, and they desperately need humanitarian assistance,” wrote the Leaders.

“The Ukrainian people are the victims of a violent, unprovoked attack and are fighting for their very survival. As Russia’s military continues to advance, more innocent lives are lost, more Ukrainians are torn from their homes, and the need for humanitarian aid intensifies. We are in a position to provide meaningful assistance to Ukraine. This is a moment in history that goes beyond politics and demands immediate action,” said Leader Barclay.      

“As we continue to watch these tragic events in Ukraine unfold, we pray for the innocent citizens of Ukraine, who did nothing to deserve this war. It is critical that New York State steps up to the plate and does its part to support the people of Ukraine as they fight for their freedom and their safety. The Governor must take substantive action right now, which is exactly why we sent this important letter today,” concluded Leader Ortt.

A copy of the letter is attached at the top of this release.

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