PHOTO RELEASE: Gottheimer Visits Ukrainian Community in Ramsey, Slams Appeasement of Dictator Putin, Calls for TPS Extension to Keep Ukrainian Families Safe

Above: Gottheimer Visits St. Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ramsey.

RAMSEY, NJ — Today, Thursday, October 15, 2026, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) visited St. Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ramsey, where he met with parishioners and faith leaders from North Jersey’s Ukrainian community. He discussed his support for Ukrainian families in the Fifth District, the urgent need to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukrainians living in the United States, and America’s continued commitment to standing with Ukraine in its war with Russia.He also slammed the Trump Administration’s appeasement of dictator Vladimir Putin, including its new deal to import Russian diesel.

“North Jersey’s Ukrainian community has shown incredible strength, faith, and generosity, and they have my full support. We must extend TPS so Ukrainian families here are not sent back into a war zone, and we must keep standing with Ukraine as it fights for freedom against Putin’s brutal invasion. America’s commitment to Ukraine cannot waver,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5).

TPS for Ukrainians is currently set to expire on Monday, October 19, 2026, which puts at risk neighbors, workers, and students who fled amid Russia’s invasion and have since built lives here. Congressman Gottheimer called on the Administration to extend TPS protections so these families are not forced to return to an active war zone.

Gottheimer also criticized the Trump Administration’s new deal with Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel. It comes just weeks after the President signed the bipartisan Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which Gottheimer supported, that Congress passed to choke off the energy revenues that fund Putin’s war. Gottheimer argued that the deal breaks our own laws and hands Putin’s war machine a lifeline funded by American taxpayers.

The Congressman also reaffirmed his support for Ukraine abroad. He stressed that the United States must continue to back Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression and stand firmly with its people.

Gottheimer was joined by Maria Keniuk, Church Trustee; Irene and Victor Hurlinsky; Jed Sunden, Director of the American Ukraine Committee and the American Ukraine PAC; Jackie Colgan, American Association for Ukraine; Oleksandr Tran, President of Svitanok; Anna Move, President and Co-Founder of the Leonid Foundation; and Tanya Khapko, Mike and Oksana Dyakiv, Ivan Durbak, and Nadiya Dovhan, members of St. Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Below: Gottheimer Visits St. Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ramsey.

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