Senate Resolution Condemns Russia's War and Weaponized Hunger, Recognizes Holodomor as Genocide

This Senate resolution is a formal statement—a "sense of the Senate"—that tackles two major, high-stakes issues: the ongoing war in Ukraine and a dark chapter in history, the 1932–1933 Ukrainian Famine, known as the Holodomor.

Essentially, the resolution is the Senate putting its official position on the record. It strongly condemns Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine, calling it illegal and brutal. Crucially, it highlights that Russia is not just fighting a conventional war; it is using food as a weapon by targeting Ukrainian agriculture and energy infrastructure. The resolution notes that this tactic has worsened global hunger, impacting over 345 million people facing acute food insecurity in 2023, partly due to Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

The Weaponization of the Global Grocery Aisle

When we talk about policy, sometimes the impact feels distant, but this one hits the wallet and the dinner table, even here. Ukraine is often called the 'breadbasket of Europe,' exporting critical agricultural products like wheat, corn, and sunflower oil. The resolution details how Russia’s actions—occupying territory, attacking ports like Odessa and Kherson, and laying naval mines—have severely limited Ukraine’s ability to get these products to market.

For the average person juggling rising costs, this is directly linked to higher prices at the grocery store. When a major global supplier is taken offline, the cost of staples goes up everywhere. The Senate’s condemnation of this “weaponization of hunger” is essentially a formal objection to a tactic that hurts low- and middle-income countries the most, but also contributes to global inflation that affects everyone.

Remembering the Holodomor

The second major part of this resolution is historical recognition. It solemnly commemorates the 93rd anniversary of the Holodomor, the manmade famine orchestrated by the totalitarian Stalinist Government of the Soviet Union. The resolution recognizes this event, which killed millions, as a premeditated act intended to break the Ukrainian nation's resistance to Soviet control.

By referencing the findings of the 1988 Commission on the Ukraine Famine and the work of scholars like Raphael Lemkin, the Senate officially recognizes the Holodomor as an act of genocide. This isn't just about history; it's about drawing a line from past atrocities to current events, noting that Putin's war, which rejects the existence of a separate Ukrainian identity, echoes the repressive policies of the past.

The Ask: What the Senate Wants

Since this is a non-binding resolution, it doesn't create new laws or allocate funds, but it does set a clear diplomatic expectation. The Senate calls on Vladimir Putin and the Russian Armed Forces to take immediate actions: cease all attacks on civilians, withdraw all military troops from Ukraine, and fully respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Furthermore, it expresses strong support for the Ukrainian people’s defense against aggression and their efforts to build a free economy and democratic society. In short, this resolution is the U.S. Senate using its voice to provide moral and political support to Ukraine while formally condemning Russian aggression and tactics that impact global stability and food prices.