# Ukraine Sovereignty Act Plain Language Summary

This bill is a statement of U.S. policy that says the United States will not recognize Russia's claims to own any part of Ukraine. Specifically, it prohibits the federal government from treating Russian-controlled territory—including Crimea (a peninsula Russia took in 2014), Ukrainian airspace, or Ukrainian waters—as if they belong to Russia. The bill also blocks recognition of breakaway regions like the "Donetsk People's Republic" and "Luhansk People's Republic," which Russia has supported.

What this means in practical terms is that no U.S. government department or agency can take actions that would suggest America accepts Russian sovereignty over Ukrainian territory. This includes things like signing agreements, providing aid, or conducting official business in ways that treat these areas as Russian. For example, the State Department couldn't issue visas or conduct diplomacy as if Crimea were legitimately part of Russia. It's essentially the government putting into law what the U.S. already says informally: that Russia's territorial claims in Ukraine are illegitimate.

For most Americans, this bill doesn't directly change daily life, but it reinforces the U.S. government's official position on a major international conflict. It's a legal way of saying the United States stands with Ukraine's territorial integrity and won't normalize Russia's military takeovers. The bill was introduced in March 2022, right after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and represents Congress's commitment to maintaining this stance consistently across all federal agencies.

Ukraine Sovereignty Act

Perry, Scott

Ukraine Sovereignty Act This bill prohibits any federal agency from taking any action or extending any assistance that recognizes or implies recognition of Russia's claim of sovereignty over any part of Ukraine (to include Crimea), its airspace, or its territorial waters. It also prohibits federal recognition of any claims of sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic, the Luhansk People's Republic, or any other closely related successor entities.