Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Lindsey Graham commended Ukraine for its military operation inside Russia’s borders and called for continued support from the US and NATO.
Following a visit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Aug. 12, Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) praised Kyiv’s forces for their incursion into Russia.
They also advocated for ongoing US and NATO assistance to bolster Ukraine’s war effort.
“Ukraine’s decision to launch an offensive in the Kursk region of Russia was bold and strategic.”
Ukrainian forces have been engaged in combat for the past week to contain Russian forces following their incursion across the Ukraine-Russia border on Aug. 6, spreading into the western Kursk region.
The Ukrainian operation inside Russian territory appears to be a response to Russia’s territorial advances within Ukraine.
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As the offensive in Kursk progresses, Blumenthal and Graham urged increased support from the United States and NATO on various fronts.
Putin has consistently opposed Ukraine’s NATO membership.
The Connecticut Democrat plans to present the bill in September when the Senate reconvenes after its summer break.
The two senators further urged the Biden administration to relax restrictions preventing Ukrainian forces from using U.S.-supplied weapons to target Russian soil.
The Biden administration has been cautious about endorsing Ukrainian strikes inside Russia to contain the conflict and avoid formal involvement in the war.
However, in recent months, the administration has loosened these restrictions, allowing Ukrainian forces to conduct cross-border operations against Russian-backed forces within Ukraine.
Zelenskyy has called on Western supporters to lift restrictions preventing Ukrainian forces from striking further into Russia.
Graham and Blumenthal reiterated these calls following their meeting with the Ukrainian president.
“Having heard from President Zelenskyy, we urge the Biden administration to remove restrictions on US-provided weapons so Ukrainian forces can effectively combat the Russian invaders,” the senators stated.
Putin has warned that Russia may view Ukraine’s Western allies as participants in the conflict and retaliate if they support extensive Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory.
“Their countries are small and densely populated, which is a factor to consider before advocating for strikes deep into Russian territory,” Putin emphasized.
Kyiv’s Drive for Former F-16 Pilots
Among their proposals to support Ukraine, Graham and Blumenthal endorsed a plan for Ukraine to recruit retired F-16 pilots from NATO countries.
The NATO alliance began working on preparing Ukraine’s air force to operate F-16s last year, but the success of the effort has relied on Ukrainian pilots adapting to a new aircraft.
“President Zelenskyy informed us that he intends to enhance his air force by enlisting retired NATO F-16 fighter pilots,” Blumenthal and Graham stated.
“We support this initiative. Ukraine already has ground forces fighting for freedom, and this volunteer force should also be present in the air.”
Enabling Ukraine to recruit former NATO F-16 pilots, including those from the US, may present legal and diplomatic challenges and raise concerns about protecting classified information shared within the alliance.
“The Department of Defense and the Office of the Secretary of Defense do not officially comment on or endorse specific recruitment strategies for foreign militaries,” stated a US defense spokesperson via email.
“Decisions on such matters are intricate and involve numerous factors, including legal, operational, and diplomatic considerations.”
The Epoch Times reached out to Graham and Blumenthal’s offices for additional insight on the potential obstacles associated with allowing Ukraine to enlist retired NATO pilots. Neither office responded through publication. The Epoch Times also contacted the White House for input on the pilot recruitment proposal but did not receive a response.
US Election Could Impact Ukraine Outcomes
Although Graham and Blumenthal showed bipartisan support for the Ukrainian war effort, they may face challenges gaining momentum in the lead-up to the 2024 US elections. The US House and Senate are scheduled to reconvene from Sept. 9 to Sept. 30. Following that, members of Congress anticipate returning to their districts and reconvening on Nov. 12, a week after the 2024 elections.
Support for Ukraine has caused division among Republicans, particularly with former President Donald Trump, who is a prominent figure in the party heading into the 2024 elections. Trump has indicated his intention to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war rather than advocating for increased military and financial aid to Kyiv.
On Aug. 13, Trump ally and former Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell reiterated the call for negotiations to resolve the conflict during a discussion at the European Union-US Forum in Vienna, Austria. Grenell stated, “[Trump] is going to tell both sides, ‘Stop it, we need to solve this, and if you don’t, there will be consequences.'” Please rephrase.
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