A bipartisan group of more than three dozen lawmakers is urging the Biden administration to increase the number of weapons provided to Ukraine’s military in response to continued demands from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to provide his country with more weapons to defend itself against Russia, according to a letter obtained by CNN, the network reported.
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Democratic Reps. Andy Kim of New Jersey and Jason Crow of Colorado, as well as Republican Rep. Peter Meijer of Michigan, spearheaded a letter to President Joe Biden on Monday urging the United States to provide more weapons, including long-range surface-to-air missiles, fighter aircraft, and anti-ship missiles. The congressmen said their request is based on a wish list provided by Ukrainian officials to Capitol Hill last week, which CNN reported receiving, outlining 17 areas where Ukraine is seeking greater assistance.
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The lawmakers’ proposal also includes more Stinger anti-air and Javelin anti-tank missiles, which Ukraine is running low on, as well as longer-range drones so Ukraine can “better disrupt Russian supply lines and counter Russian siege tactics, especially in Eastern Ukraine.”
“We recognize that the United States and its allies and partners have already provided substantial military aid, in response to the Russian invasion, including a portion of the $13.6 billion in emergency funds through the fiscal 2022 Omnibus Appropriations bill,” the lawmakers wrote. “However, Ukrainians are clear that more needs to be done for Ukraine to win this war.”
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According to the Biden administration, the US and NATO partners are supplying Ukraine with armaments at an unprecedented rate, delivering hundreds of millions of dollars in equipment since Russia’s incursion began in February. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Sunday that there would soon be ten anti-tank weaponry systems in Ukraine for every Russian tank on Ukrainian territory.
US officials have highlighted that they are providing Ukrainians with usable weapons while implying that some of the requests, such as fighter jets, are not as viable as others.
The lawmakers, on the other hand, said that Ukraine is running low on fighter planes. “Ukraine has more than enough pilots trained to fly additional aircraft if supplied,” according to the letter. “Additional aircraft would also allow Ukrainian forces to provide a more adequate defense of urban areas like Kharkiv and Mariupol, where numerous civilian casualties have occurred following Russian attacks.”
