WASHINGTON -- As Washington once again wrestles with the question of how far the United States should go in supporting Ukraine, a resolution from one of the country's most geographically distant states has added a new voice to the debate.
The Hawaii State Senate has urged President Donald Trump and Congress to provide Ukraine with weapons to defend itself against Russia and recover territory recognized as Ukrainian under international law.
Senate Resolution 179 passed in April, with three of the 25 state senators -- all Republicans -- voting against it. It was subsequently transmitted to federal officials and, earlier this week, was entered into the Congressional Record as a memorial from the Hawaii Legislature and referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
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Kyiv Critically Short Of Air Defenses As Questions Swirl Over US Patriot StockpilesThe resolution is nonbinding and cannot direct US foreign policy. But its arrival in Congress comes as bipartisan support for additional pressure on Russia is again being tested.
Hawaii's measure also cannot appropriate money, order weapons shipments, or compel Trump or Congress to adopt a particular policy. Its significance instead lies in the message and the fact that it was formally delivered to federal officials.
In June, the US House approved a Ukraine Support Act authorizing more than $1 billion in assistance, up to $8 billion in military financing loans, reconstruction support, and new sanctions on Russia. The measure passed 226-195, with 18 Republicans joining Democrats.
In late July, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to advance legislation that would expand sanctions on Russia and Iran and give Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on major purchasers of Russian oil and gas.
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US Senate Advances Landmark Russia Sanctions Bill After Zelenskyy's Capitol AppealAgainst that backdrop, Hawaii's resolution illustrates that support for Kyiv is being expressed beyond Washington, including by state lawmakers with no direct role in foreign policy.
The resolution was originally introduced by Democratic state Senators Karl Rhoads, Lorraine Inouye, and Angus McKelvey. Rhoads, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was its first sponsor.
Speaking to RFE/RL on August 12, Rhoads said he felt Hawaii had not spoken forcefully enough about Ukraine in recent years.
'The Don't Have Enough Ballistic Missiles'
One of his main concerns is Ukraine's shortage of air defenses, particularly systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. "One of the big problems, of course, Ukrainians face at this point is that they don't have enough anti-ballistic missiles to keep Kyiv from being pounded every night," Rhoads said.
That point was driven home by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said during a CNN interview on August 12 that Ukraine needs at least 5 percent of the current US stockpile of Patriot interceptor missiles to ward off surging Russian ballistic missile attacks, while 10 would be enough to stop all Russian ballistic missile attacks.
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US Lawmaker Don Bacon Questions Trump Shift On Patriots For UkraineThe resolution says US assistance has helped Ukraine defend itself, conduct counteroffensives, and provide humanitarian relief. It calls for continued weapons supplies to defend Ukrainian sovereignty and recover territory recognized as Ukrainian under international law.
It also urges Trump to negotiate the withdrawal of Russian forces.
Rhoads' call for more weapons comes as Washington's debate has shifted toward the mix of military assistance and economic pressure that could change the course of the war.
He said Ukraine needs additional air defense systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles as well as longer-range weapons.
Rhoads also defended Ukrainian strikes against targets deep inside Russia, saying they had brought the war "home to Russia." "I think more longer-range weaponry would be a good idea," he said.
He acknowledged the disparity between Ukraine and Russia, which is larger and has received military assistance from countries such as North Korea and Iran. China's relationship with Moscow, he said, has further complicated the strategic picture.
Rhoads said he was encouraged by growing recognition in Europe that European countries must assume more responsibility for their own security. He pointed to Finland and Sweden joining NATO after Russia's full-scale invasion.
"I think they're realizing that they have to play a bigger role than they have," he said.
Rhoads said he hoped Europe would "pick up the slack," but added: "We really should do more."
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Certified copies were sent to Trump, congressional leaders, members of Hawaii's congressional delegation and the governor. The resolution was subsequently entered into the Congressional Record and referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Rhoads said Hawaii retains generally pro-Ukrainian sentiment among people who continue to follow the war. But he acknowledged that public attention could fade.
"Everybody's moving on," he said, noting that the war has lasted for years while Americans face other concerns.
Rhoads said he was unaware of polling that would allow him to compare Hawaii with the country as a whole. "My guess is it's similar -- that to the extent anybody's thinking about it, they're pro-Ukrainian," he said.
'The Russians Started This'
The resolution, then, is not necessarily evidence of a groundswell of public pressure. It is evidence that some state lawmakers still want Washington to hear an argument that has become increasingly contested at the federal level.
Mykola Murskyj, director of advocacy at Razom, a US-based nonprofit focused on Ukraine, told RFE/RL that Hawaii's action reflects broader American support for Kyiv.
"Despite what one might see on the news, Americans still overwhelmingly support weapons for Ukraine's defense and sanctions against Russia," Murskyj said.
He argued that Ukraine can defeat Russia if given the necessary military tools and pointed to public support for weapons and sanctions.
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Shelter Shortage In Kyiv Adds To Suffering Amid Russian OnslaughtGiven that Hawaii was the site of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Murskyj also invoked the state's own experience of foreign aggression.
"Hawaiians know a thing or two about unprovoked attacks," he said, arguing that the US should learn from history and give Ukraine the means to end Russia's war.
Like Rhoads, he singled out air defense.
The appeal comes as Washington weighs military assistance against economic measures aimed at Russia's war revenues. The Senate sanctions legislation, for example, seeks to increase pressure on Russia's energy income and other sources of financing.
Hawaii's message, however, is more direct: Ukraine needs weapons.
"Ukraine is an independent country," Rhoads said. "The Russians started this, not the Ukrainians," he said.