Senators Call on Obama to Provide Arms to Ukraine
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iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — Just a day after Defense Secretary nominee Ash Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he would be “inclined” to push for providing lethal arms to Ukraine, the committee gathered in a press conference Thursday to make an official call to President Obama.
Just what that aid would look like though, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., wouldn’t elaborate.
“We don’t need to get into specifics,” McCain, the committee’s chairman told reporters. “But everybody right now knows they have no ability to counter Russian tanks. It’s wholesale slaughter.”
Just two days ago the White House acknowledged it was reassessing its approach at providing arms to Ukraine’s army. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said the failure to do so would put America’s credibility at risk.
“Make no mistake, sanctions are not working,” Blumenthal, D-Conn., told reporters Thursday. “Ukrainians are being slaughtered and we have a role to play in imposing restraint. We need to see that Putin understands nothing but force.”
Senators from both sides of the aisle laid thick criticism on Russia, calling Russian President Vladimir Putin everything from a “thug” to a “schoolyard bully.”
“If we allow the Ukrainians the opportunity to punch the bully in the nose, maybe he thinks twice about what the cost of aggression truly is,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D.
McCain said the committee would be looking at whether to write up legislation specifically calling on the White House to provide weapons.
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