New Religious Freedom Bill, 20 Co-Sponsors. A Big Week for Ukraine

This has been a remarkable week for U.S.–Ukraine advocacy.

From Capitol Hill to the halls of faith, Americans and Ukrainians stood together to advance legislation, deepen partnerships, and send a clear message: the United States does not stand by in silence while religious communities are persecuted, churches are bombed, and a sovereign nation is invaded.

The American Ukraine Committee is proud to be at the center of this effort — as a sponsor of Ukraine Week, as a partner in advocacy, and as a voice for Ukraine in Washington.

Five Years of Bridges.
One Week That Changes Everything.

The American Ukraine Committee is proud to serve as a sponsor and key organizer of Ukrainian Week 2026 — now in its fifth consecutive year and more significant than ever. Held in Washington, D.C., Ukrainian Week has grown into one of the most consequential civic and diplomatic gatherings of the year, bringing together leaders, advocates, faith communities, veterans, business leaders, and policymakers from across the United States, Europe, and Ukraine.

This year's Ukrainian Week takes place alongside the International Religious Freedom Summit (IRF) — a partnership that reflects the deep connection between Ukraine's struggle for sovereignty and the universal defense of religious liberty. Together, these events created the perfect backdrop for what came next.

The American Ukraine Committee's mission is to build lasting bridges — and Ukrainian Week is where those bridges are built, tested, and made stronger each year.

Congress Introduces the Countering Russia's War on Faith Act

This week, a bipartisan, bicameral coalition in the United States Congress introduced landmark legislation that puts into law what Ukrainian Week has championed for years: that Russia's war on Ukraine is not only a war on territory — it is a war on faith, identity, and religious freedom.

H.R. 8433 / S-4379
Countering Russia's War on Faith Act

This bill requires the Secretaries of State and Defense to jointly report on Russian efforts to persecute, suppress, and violate the religious freedoms of communities in Ukraine and Russian-occupied territories. It further directs the President to impose sanctions on foreign individuals found to have engaged in such abuses — creating real, documented accountability for crimes against people of faith.

The bill was introduced in the House by:

🔴Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) — Chairman, U.S. Helsinki Commission
🔵Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) — Ranking Member, U.S. Helsinki Commission
🔵Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) — Co-Founder, Congressional Ukraine Caucus
🔴Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) — Co-Chair, Congressional Ukraine Caucus
🔴Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) — Congressional Ukraine Caucus
🔵Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) — Co-Chair, Congressional Ukraine Caucus

Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by:
🔴Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA)
🔵Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) — Ranking Member, U.S. Helsinki Commission

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed the legislation, calling it "not just timely — it is long overdue." This is the kind of moral clarity that strong advocacy produces. This is what Ukraine Week makes possible.

20 New Co-Sponsors. The Hill Is Listening.

This week saw a major milestone from the American Coalition for Ukraine's Ukraine Action Summit. The Summit delivered results that speak for themselves: 20 new co-sponsors across five key pieces of pro-Ukraine legislation — a testament to the power of organized, sustained advocacy.

20 New Co-Sponsors
5 Bills Supported
2 Chambers of Congress

Here is every new co-sponsor secured this week —  Republican ·  Democrat.

To every one of these representatives and senators: thank you. Your willingness to stand on record, across party lines, for Ukraine's sovereignty and for accountability is exactly what this moment demands.

Take Action Now

Religious freedom in Ukraine must be protected against coercion, intimidation, and unlawful interference. Safeguarding this fundamental right is essential to preserving human dignity, democratic values, and the rule of law.

Failing to act would allow violations to continue unchecked, weakening protections for vulnerable communities and undermining international commitments to human rights.

Now is not the time to stay silent.
Religious freedom must be defended.

Thank You to Everyone Standing With Ukraine

This week has made clear that advocacy works. Bills get introduced. Co-sponsors step forward. Summits produce results. None of this happens without the sustained commitment of advocates, faith communities, veterans, educators, business leaders, and ordinary Americans who refuse to look away.

We thank the lawmakers who introduced and co-sponsored legislation this week. We thank the delegates, speakers, and partners who made Ukraine Week and the Ukraine Action Summit so impactful. We thank our faith partners and the International Religious Freedom Summit for standing in solidarity. And we thank you — for reading, and for advocating.