Feb 20 2023

GRAHAM ON BIDEN VISIT TO UKRAINE

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on President Biden visiting Ukraine.

“I am very pleased that President Biden took the time and effort to visit Ukraine, and meet with President Zelensky. This was the right signal to send at the right time. A presidential visit to Ukraine, along with the statements made by Vice President Harris at the Munich Security Conference that Russia is committing crimes against humanity in Ukraine, are a powerful combination.

“However, for the visits and statements to matter to their fullest extent, decisive action must immediately follow. 

“First, we must designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism under U.S. law. That would also help ensure any lethal assistance to Russia, provided by China, is devastating to the Chinese economy. Second, we should stop the debate about advanced fighter aircraft for Ukraine. Instead, we should start immediately training Ukrainian pilots and maintainers, and provide them the advanced fighter jets to not only win this war, but deter future aggression.

“We must be doing all we can to allow the victim of the crime against humanity, Ukraine, to defend itself from the war criminal, Putin.

“Words are powerful, but they must be followed by powerful actions as well.”