WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and 40 other Republican senators urged President Biden to work with Poland and our NATO partners to expedite the transfer of aircraft, air defense systems, and other critical military supplies to Ukraine.
“While we commend the lethal aid that your Administration has sent to Ukraine thus far, we strongly disagree with your decision to delay and deny Poland the option to transfer fighter jets to Ukraine,” said the senators. “We cannot allow Putin to gain an advantage because of a failure to provide the Ukrainians with needed weaponry, ammunition, communications equipment, and medical supplies.”
“We implore you to act without delay to provide urgently needed airpower that will bolster the ability of the Ukrainian armed forces to defend their country and help save civilian lives,” continued the senators.
Cassidy and Ernst are joined by Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT), Richard Burr (R-NC), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), James Risch (R-ID), Roger Wicker(R-MS), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Ted Cruz (R-TX),Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Braun (R-IN), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rob Portman (R-OH), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Boozman (R-AR), Rick Scott (R-FL), Mike Braun (R-IN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Pat Toomey (R-PA), John Kennedy (R-LA), John Barrasso (R-WY), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Hoeven (R-ND), James Lankford (R-OK), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Cornyn (R-TX), Todd Young (R-IN), Richard Shelby (R-AL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), John Thune (R-SD), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Tim Scott (R-SC).
Read the full letter here or below.
Dear Mr. President:
Supporting Ukraine’s fight for freedom against the tyrannical, lawless Russian invasion of Ukraine’s sovereign territory is among the most urgent missions the West has faced in a generation. So far, Russian forces have been stymied by stiff Ukrainian resistance, and we must redouble our efforts to prevent a brutal and unlawful takeover of Ukraine. We urge your Administration to work with Poland and our NATO allies to expedite the transfer of urgently-needed airpower, air defense systems, and other combat and support capabilities from the United States, NATO allies, and other European partners to Ukraine.
While we commend the lethal aid that your Administration has sent to Ukraine thus far, we strongly disagree with your decision to delay and deny Poland the option to transfer fighter jets to Ukraine. Your Administration champions the $1 billion in defense articles provided to Ukraine over the past 13 months and has definitively stated there are no restrictions in your current suite of authorities to adequately respond to Russia’s lawless and bloody invasion of Ukraine. We implore you to direct your Department of Defense to facilitate the transfer of aircraft, air defense systems, and other capabilities by and through our NATO partners immediately.
Today, Russia’s assault is trained on the Ukrainian people, public infrastructure, farms, hospitals, daycares, places of work, and even their homes. The Ukrainian military is in dire need of more lethal aid today to defend the foundations of their country that will allow it to function in the future. We cannot allow Putin to gain an advantage because of a failure to provide the Ukrainians with needed weaponry, ammunition, communications equipment, and medical supplies.
We implore you to act without delay to provide urgently needed airpower that will bolster the ability of the Ukrainian armed forces to defend their country and help save civilian lives.
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