Dear Community Member,

The United States has long stood for freedom, democracy, and a responsibility to our allies. That commitment is being tested once again as Ukraine continues its fight for sovereignty against Russia’s brutal and unprovoked invasion. Recent developments in Washington and across the Atlantic have reinforced why our leadership on the global stage is more important than ever.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to the United States seeking a security deal for Ukraine’s defense and a sustainable path to peace. Rather than solidarity, he was met with hostility from the White House. In a dishonorable form of diplomacy, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated him, dismissed Ukraine’s legitimate security concerns, and suggested that American backing should come with conditions that would ultimately benefit Moscow.

Rep. Panetta meets with President Zelenskyy to reaffirm U.S. support.

Ukraine is fighting for its survival and for the principles of sovereignty, democracy, and the rule of law. Their resistance against Russian aggression is a stand for the very values that we share and cherish. A ceasefire without security guarantees would only embolden Putin to regroup, strike again, and potentially go beyond Ukraine. That’s why we must ensure that any diplomatic solution is not just economic deals masquerading as guarantees of peace, but prioritizes real, enforceable security commitments.

As the author of a bipartisan resolution marking the third year of the war, I remain steadfast in my support for Ukraine. Our resolution underscores America’s role in supporting Ukraine and ensuring that any negotiations lead not to a surrender to Russian aggression, but to a just and lasting peace.

Additionally, this week I introduced the bipartisan NATO Edge Act to reaffirm the United States’ ironclad commitment to NATO and restrict any administration from unilaterally withdrawing from the alliance. NATO remains the cornerstone of international security, and at a time when adversaries seek to divide us, our unity is our greatest strength.

The NATO Edge Act builds on my previous bipartisan legislation signed into law that ensured that a President cannot withdraw the U.S. from NATO without Senate approval. The NATO Edge Act not only prevents a President from withdrawing from NATO without approval from Congress, it also requires that NATO members meet their defense spending commitments. The NATO Edge Act is a crucial step in strengthening NATO, our allies, and its transatlantic security agreement, and ensuring that the U.S. continues be a leader in defending democracy.

Rep. Panetta speaks with displaced Ukrainian children and orphans.

Supporting Ukraine is not just about standing with an ally, it’s about defending the principles that keep us safe and secure. President Trump’s remarks and actions have already drawn bipartisan backlash in Congress, with members of his own party castigating his approach to America’s foreign policy. We must not allow partisanship to erode the global leadership that defines the United States. The bipartisan NATO Edge Act would ensure that we remain resolute in our commitment to our allies and our leadership of the free world.

Sincerely,

Jimmy Panetta
United States Representative
19th Congressional District, California