Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (RS.C.) has urged the Biden administration to name Russia as a sponsor of terrorism as well as to increase training for Ukrainians.
“We need to do two things quickly: make Russia a state sponsor of terrorism under US law, which would make it harder for China to give arms to Russia, and we need to start training Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 now,” Graham said. said on ABC’s “This Week.”
Graham also said it would be foolish for China to support Russia and its aggression.
“For the Chinese, if you jump on the Putin bandwagon now, you’re dumber than dirt,” he said. “It would be like buying a ticket on the Titanic after seeing the movie. Don’t do that.
Over the past few days, Graham, Blinken and many other U.S. officials and lawmakers have attended the annual Munich Security Conference, a forum for world leaders to discuss key geopolitical challenges, including the invasion of Ukraine. by Russia.
Several bipartisan groups of members of Congress traveled to the conference together to present a united front, even as some right-wing lawmakers called for a withdrawal of US support.
Fresh concerns about China’s intentions surfaced ahead of a “peace speech” Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to deliver on Friday, the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
China will state its position on the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict in a document stressing that the territorial integrity of the belligerent countries should not be violated, said the head of Chinese diplomacy, Wang Yi, who spoke during Saturday a panel at the Munich conference and met Blinken on the margins.
“We’ve seen them provide non-lethal support to Russia for use in Ukraine,” Blinken said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “The concern we have now is based on the information we have that they are planning to provide lethal support – and we have made it very clear to them that this will cause a serious problem for us and in our relationship.”
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Tex.) has called for even more weapons, including sending in US jets — something President Biden has ruled out.
“We have to throw everything we can into this fight so they can win,” McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“Over the past year, we have been very slow to bring these weapons in, in the name of being too provocative,” McCaul added. “If we put things in place from the start of this conflict, a year from now might have been very different, as we look at the anniversary of February 24. The longer they drag this out, the more they make the game of Putin.”
The call for more weapons comes after Vice President Harris said at the Munich security conference on Saturday that Russia had committed “crimes against humanity”. She called on the world to stand firm in its continued support for Ukraine.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield did not rule out supplying F-16 jets to Ukraine during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union”. But she stressed that Ukrainians need to be trained on any equipment they use.
“It doesn’t help them if we provide them with weapon systems that they are not able to use and they don’t have the capacity to maintain,” she said. “As such, discussions will continue over the coming weeks and months as we determine how best to support them.”
She also said China would face consequences if it provided support to Russia.
“If there are thoughts and efforts on the part of the Chinese and others to provide deadly support to the Russians in their brutal attack on Ukraine, [then] this is unacceptable,” she said. “Again, that would be a red line.”
In a widely watched trip, Biden is due to visit Poland this week and is expected to reiterate the United States’ commitment to Ukraine and praise Poland’s support for the war. The United States has about 10,000 people on rotation in Poland as part of the NATO alliance.
Asked about “Face the Nation”, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said he hoped the United States would provide troops to help deter Russian aggression.
“We are in discussions with President Biden’s administration to make their presence more permanent and increase them,” Morawiecki said. “It’s not just about us. It is also about creating stability around us.
Washington
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