No United States Recognition of Russian Sovereignty Over Crimea or Any Other Forcibly Seized Ukrainian Territory

This bill, introduced in the Senate as S. 1749, would codify a U.S. policy of not recognizing Russia’s sovereignty claims over Crimea or any other Ukrainian territory that has been forcibly seized. It would prohibit any federal department or agency from taking actions, providing nonhumanitarian assistance, or spending funds that could be interpreted as recognizing Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea or other seized Ukrainian lands, unless Ukraine’s democratically elected government formally recognizes those Russian claims. The scope includes Crimea as well as related airspace and territorial waters. In short, the bill seeks to permanently bar U.S. recognition of Russia’s sovereignty claims unless Ukraine itself acknowledges them.