FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                 
January 20, 2026                                                                             

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, January 15, representatives of the Central & East European Coalition (CEEC) met with the offices of five key members of Congress to discuss critical security issues affecting the region and U.S. strategic interests.

The bipartisan outreach included meetings with the offices of Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Representative Bill Keating (D-MA), and Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX). CEEC advocates thanked the lawmakers for their continued support for Ukraine’s defense and their efforts to counter Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics against NATO allies and regional partners.

The Key Policy Priorities Discussed included:

Ukraine: CEEC representatives discussed the current status of congressional appropriations for Ukraine following passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the NDAA to authorize $400 million to fund the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). The coalition stressed the encouragement of representatives to give a special floor speech on the Ukrainian children trafficked and abducted by the Putin regime. Along with the NDAA, Republican staffers also provided the need to push Senator Lindsey Graham’s office to share with other Republican colleagues key moral issues to combat Russian narratives, including persecuted Christians in Russian occupied territories in Ukraine, by sharing critical information from foreign affairs committee hearings, including the Senate’s Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the abduction of Ukrainian Children. The CEEC informed Congressional and ethnic diaspora representatives about the upcoming Ukraine Days on Capitol Hill during the anniversary dates of the invasion on February 23-24 to continue the dialogue.  

Russian Energy Sanctions: The coalition expressed strong support for two bipartisan bills introduced by Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX): the Ending Importation of Laundered Russian Oil Act and the No Aid for Russian Energy Act. These bills aim to impose critical sanctions on Russia’s energy sector and close existing loopholes by banning American individuals and companies from providing crucial energy supplies, services, equipment, and software to Russian energy institutions.

Georgian Security and Strategic Alignment: CEEC urged passage of the MEGOBARI Act, raising alarm that the Georgian government’s actions are creating serious vulnerabilities for U.S. and regional security. CEEC elaborated on how Georgia has become vulnerable to covert operations and sanctions evasion by Iran, China, and Russia. CEEC emphasized that passing the MEGOBARI Act would demonstrate that the United States will not tolerate anti-American rhetoric, malign influence, or misappropriation of U.S. investment in the South Caucasus.

Baltic Security Initiative: The coalition highlighted the importance of the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI) as a tool to help NATO partners resist Russian aggression, along with raising the importance of the USAI. All three Baltic nations have exceeded NATO defense spending targets. While BSI funding has been authorized by the NDAA, appropriations are pending in the upcoming defense spending bill.

CEEC continues to work with allies in Congress who recognize the challenge to U.S. security and economic interests posed by the Putin regime and encourages support for these legislative initiatives.

Contact:  Lucas Vroege
e-mail:  unis@ucca.org

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