RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COTATI SUPPORTING
AN INDEPENDENT AND DEMOCRATIC UKRAINE AND CONDEMNING THE
RUSSIAN MILITARY INVASION
WHEREAS, on January 21, 1990, more than 300,000 Ukrainians called for unity and independence from the Soviet Union by forming a human chain between the cities of Kyiv and Ivano-Frankivsk; and
WHEREAS, on August 24, 1991, the elected Verkhovna Rada (legislature) of Ukraine declared the independence of Ukraine from the Soviet Union with an overwhelming majority vote; and
WHEREAS, on December 1, 1991, more than 90 percent of Ukrainian citizens voted in a national referendum in support of independence, with majorities in every region; and WHEREAS, on February 8, 1994, Ukraine was the first member state of the Commonwealth of Independent States to join the Partnership for Peace program of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and has since deepened its relationship with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, recognized as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner; and WHEREAS, on December 5, 1994, in an effort to solidify security commitments to Ukraine in return for its nuclear disarmament, the United States, the Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom signed the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, whereby each country pledged to respect the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine's borders while refraining from the threat or use of force against Ukraine; and WHEREAS, on November 22, 2004, Ukrainians peacefully took to the streets in protest of a fraudulent presidential election, beginning the Orange Revolution and resulting in new elections under free and fair conditions; and
WHEREAS, on November 21, 2013, the “Euromaidan” protests began in favor of signing the European Union-Ukraine Association Agreement, resulting in the Revolution of Dignity and the removal of President Viktor Yanukovych by the Verkhovna Rada; and WHEREAS, on February 20, 2014, in response, the Russian Federation invaded Crimea in the independent state of Ukraine, threatens the freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, and subsequently supported conflict in the Donbas region to destabilize Ukraine, and; WHEREAS, on February 12, 2015, a new package of measures to end the conflict in Donbas, known as Minsk II'', was signed, provisions of which have still not yet been fully implemented; and
WHEREAS, at least 14,000 Ukrainians have been killed and millions more displaced since the conflict with Russia began in 2014; and
WHEREAS, on September 1, 2017, the European Union-Ukraine Association Agreement came into effect; and
WHEREAS, in March and November 2021, the Russian Federation deployed a massive troop and weapons buildup on the border with Ukraine; and WHEREAS, on December 12, 2021, at a meeting in Liverpool, delegates of the Group of Seven (G7) released a joint statement saying, Russia should be in no doubt that further military aggression against Ukraine would have massive consequences and severe cost in response. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the right of any sovereign state to determine its own future.''; and WHEREAS, on January 28, 2022, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated, Our aim is . . .to convey a clear message to Russia . . . if they use military force against Ukraine it will have severe consequences. NATO allies are ready to impose heavy economic sanctions-- political, financial sanctions.''; and
WHEREAS, on February 12, 2022, President Joseph R. Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that the West will respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs'' if Russia further invades Ukraine; and
WHEREAS, on February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine triggering widespread international condemnation, new severe sanctions imposed on Russia and large protests in many parts of the world; and WHEREAS, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 1 million people have fled the country since February 24, causing a refugee crisis across Europe.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Cotati that the City Council:
1. Supports a secure, democratic, and independent Ukraine, free to choose its own leaders and future.
2. Condemns the military invasion of Ukraine that began on February 24, 2022, including the resulting humanitarian crisis the invasion has created.
3. Condemns the 2014 invasion and attempted annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and the violence fomented by Russian proxies in eastern Ukraine.
4. Condemns the Russian Federation's ongoing disregard of international maritime law by partially blocking parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, which hamper freedom of navigation and significantly impacts Ukraine's economy.
IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cotati held on the March 8th, 2022, by the following vote, to wit:
Approved:________________________________
Mayor
Attest:____________________________
Lauren Berges, City Clerk
Approved as to form:
____________________________
City Attorney