Establishing that it shall be the policy of the Government of the United States to recognize the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within that nation's internationally recognized borders as established in 1991.
H. J. Res. 77 is a joint resolution that states it is the exclusive policy of the United States to recognize Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders as they were defined in 1991. The resolution explicitly condemns Russia’s actions—its occupation and annexation of Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—and affirms that the United States will uphold Ukraine’s borders and reject Russia’s territorial claims. It grounds this stance in international law (including the principle that illegal acts create no legal rights) and cites the Welles Declaration of 1940 as a precedent for not recognizing territorial gains acquired by aggression. The bill is introduced in the House, referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and represents a policy declaration rather than a new program or funding measure.
Key Points
- 1Establishes the exclusive policy of the United States to not recognize or act in ways that imply recognition of Russia’s claims over occupied Ukrainian territory (Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson).
- 2Reaffirms Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders as established in 1991.
- 3Declares Russia’s annexations and occupations since 2014 illegal and a violation of the United Nations Charter and international law.
- 4Emphasizes the principle ex injuria jus non oritur (illegal acts confer no legal rights) to support that unlawful acts cannot become legal rights or recognized occupancy.
- 5References the Welles Declaration (1940) as a precedent supporting the United States’ rejection of territorial claims gained by aggression; frames the resolution as a continuation of that policy.