Florida Senate Condemns Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine

Florida Phoenix

March 1, 2022

The Florida Senate has adopted a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Tina Polsky, a Democrat representing parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, introduced the measure (SR 1990) on Tuesday, saying she is descended from Russian Jews living in territory now part of Ukraine.

“I certainly feel a kinship with Ukranian Jews. It’s a very large Ukrainian Jewish community, and having a Jewish president,” Polsky said — referring to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

The resolution reads:

“Whereas, the United States of America is committed to the growth and spread of democracy worldwide and stands with the Ukrainian people suffering at the hands of Vladimir Putin, many of whom face grave harm or even death under the crush of his ruthless military assault, now, therefore,

“Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: That the ruthless military assault on Ukraine, and on democracy itself, by Russian President Vladimir Putin is condemned and that the Florida Senate expresses its unwavering support for the Ukrainian people in this extraordinary time.”

The moved followed by one day a statement by Gov. Ron DeSantis praising the Ukrainians’ “moxie” against the Russians but arguing that Putin staged the invasion because of what he perceived as a “lack of leadership” by President Joe Biden.

It looks like no similar resolution has been filed in the Florida House.

The resolution recounts Ukraine’s emergence as an independent nation: its move “toward becoming a full-fledged democracy with an elected president and an independent parliament and membership in the United Nations and the Council Europe.”

It also notes Putin’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and continued push to “undermine the efforts of Ukraine’s directly elected President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who took office in May 2019 after winning more than 73 percent of the popular vote”; and deployment of troops into Donetsk and Luhansk on Feb. 22, followed by his full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Note: This story has been updated with comments from Sen. Polsky.

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