Keystone Today

Gov. Tom Wolf recently announced that Pennsylvania stands with Ukraine as the country fights off a Russian invasion.

Wolf highlighted steps he took to sanction Russia and announced his full support for divesting financially from the country in a recent press release from his office. He also said Pennsylvania welcomes anyone from Ukraine fleeing the country. Over 122,000 Ukrainians live in Pennsylvania, which is the second-highest Ukrainian population of any state in the U.S.

"Frances and I have been watching the news and seeing the devastation being inflicted on the people of Ukraine," Wolf said in the release. "It is abundantly clear that the people of Ukraine are strong and united as a nation, but it is heartbreaking that they have been forced into this war — and forced to endure the loss, destruction and death that war brings — by Russia."

Wolf said he admires the valor Ukraine has displayed and that he will do everything possible to cut ties between Pennsylvania and Russia and strengthen support for Ukraine.

Wolf said he supports laws that cut off public funds to Russia. He also supports a bill that provides $2 million in state funds to support Ukrainians fleeing their country who might end up in Pennsylvania.

With Pennsylvania being one of the largest buyers of liquor in the country, Wolf was among the first governors to push a ban of liquor made in Russia from stores, the governor's office reported. He also demanded that the Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System and the Public School Employees' Retirement System remove Russian investments, which they complied with.

State Treasurer Stacy Garrity has also been working to pull out of investments in Russian companies, with Wolf directing agencies to cancel any existing contracts with the country, the governor's office reported.

"I have repeatedly joined with President Biden and other leaders across the globe to condemn the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and we have and will continue to take real, meaningful actions to support Ukraine," Wolf said. "I strongly support adding Russia to the list of countries we divest from under law. Pennsylvania also stands ready to accept Ukrainians fleeing violence. You are safe and welcome here."

Many businesses from Ukraine have chosen to set up shop in Pennsylvania in recent years through the Pennsylvania Office of International Business Development, which is under the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), the governor's office reported. Wolf said Ukraine has created exceptional businesses in areas such as information technology, food production and concrete pavers.

"During the past year, we worked with the local Chamber of Commerce in Lviv and the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine on a webinar for companies in Kyiv and actively engaged the Ukrainian business community about trade and investment opportunities in Pennsylvania," David Briel, deputy secretary of DCED's Office of International Business Development, said in the release. "The commonwealth has the second largest Ukrainian and Ukrainian-American population in the U.S. Pennsylvania also shares many historical commonalities with Ukraine, including a well-developed industrial base, highly-trained workforce, and rich farmlands."