Blumenthal expresses continued support for Ukraine at Quinnipiac University conference

HAMDEN, Conn. (WFSB) - One year after Russia’s full-scale invasion in Ukraine began, Senator Richard Blumenthal is voicing his support for legislation aimed at helping Ukrainian refugees in Connecticut.

“We need to put a stop to this aggression,” said Cornel Feruta, Romanian ambassador to the UN.

Senator Blumenthal said the Ukrainian Adjustment Act will provide Ukrainian refugees in Connecticut with assurance, safety, and security.

The act would make it easier for Ukrainian refugees currently in the United States to get permanent status.

Blumenthal also took to twitter to thank President Biden for stronger sanctions against Russia, and 2,000,000,000 dollars in military aid for Ukraine.

The conference featured ambassadors from Romania, Hungary, and Poland.

These neighboring nations are also feeling the strain of the war and have taken in millions of refugees.

“The ordeal they have to go through is unimaginable, especially during winter times,” said Feruta. “The way of life that we have developed for many decades, the way of life that we protected and promoted, being able to live in peace and take our freedom very seriously is actually, is now at risk.”

Panelists gave updates on what is happening on the frontlines of the war.

At least 7,000 Ukrainians have been killed and more than 8,000,000 have left the country.

The Polish Consul General to New York says after one year, there are still many needs these refugees have.

He hopes the support doesn’t slow as the days go by.

“Some of the needs are very basic, from housing to food and very basic needs that they might potentially have and we should share basically, we should be involved, we should help those people both here and the United States of America in Poland and in Ukraine,” said Adrian Kubicki, Consul General of Poland to New York. “They need financial support, they need other support, but they also need to know, just simply need to know that we are not going to turn back on them.”

He says Poland is welcoming volunteers and organizations from all over the world to travel overseas and help those refugees directly.

Spreading awareness about the conflict and the needs of refugees on social media makes a big impact as well.

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