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Blumenthal and Graham Call for Increased US and NATO Assistance to Ukraine

August 13, 2024 TruthUSA

Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Lindsey Graham lauded Ukraine’s recent incursion into Russia 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.) commended Kyiv’s forces for moving into Russia.

They also emphasized the need for ongoing US and NATO backing for Ukraine’s military campaign.

“After our sixth visit to Kyiv, we are more hopeful than ever that the tide of war has turned against [Russian President Vladimir Putin] and his cronies,” Blumenthal and Graham said in a joint press statement.

“Ukraine’s decision to go on the offensive in the Kursk region of Russia was bold and brilliant.”

Russian forces have been fighting for the past week to contain Ukrainian forces that blitzed across the Ukraine–Russia border on Aug. 6 and spread across large swathes of the western Kursk region.

The Ukrainian foray inside Russia’s borders appears aimed at countering Russia’s territorial gains inside Ukraine.

Zelenskyy announced on Aug. 12 that Ukrainian forces had taken control of approximately 386 square miles of land within Kursk.

Russia has also started to evacuate civilians from the adjacent Belgorod region, anticipating further Ukrainian advances across the border.

As the Kursk offensive progresses, Blumenthal and Graham called on the United States and NATO to enhance their support in various areas.

At the top of their agenda, the senators suggested that NATO should extend an invitation this year for Ukraine to join the alliance, echoing existing calls for expansion.

Putin has consistently opposed Ukraine’s NATO membership.

In June, the Russian leader stated that a final deal to end the war would require Kyiv to commit to staying out of the alliance.

Blumenthal indicated that he would lead a Senate bill to reinforce the US–Ukraine bilateral security agreement that President Joe Biden signed with Zelenskyy in July.

The Connecticut Democrat plans to introduce the bill in September when the Senate reconvenes after its summer break.

The two senators also urged the Biden administration to loosen restrictions preventing Ukrainian forces from using US-donated weapons to target Russian soil.

Ukrainian soldiers fire a M777 howitzer at Russian positions near Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, on March 17, 2023. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

The Biden administration has been hesitant to encourage Ukrainian strikes inside Russia to avoid escalating the conflict and being seen as a direct participant in the war.

This spring, the administration began to relax these restrictions, allowing Ukrainian forces to engage in cross-border counter-fire operations against forces supporting Russian advances in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy called on his Western supporters to remove the limitations preventing Ukrainian forces from striking even further into Russian territory.

Graham and Blumenthal reiterated these calls after meeting with the Ukrainian leader.

“After hearing from President Zelenskyy, we urge the Biden administration to lift restrictions on US-provided weapons so Ukraine can effectively target the Russian invaders,” the two senators said.

Putin has warned that Russia could consider Ukraine’s Western supporters as parties to the conflict and retaliate if they encourage extensive Ukrainian strikes on Russian soil.

Speaking at a press conference on May 28, the Russian leader mentioned that NATO member nations should be fully aware of the consequences of encouraging Ukraine to strike Russian territory.

“These are small and densely populated countries, and this should be taken into account before considering strikes deep into Russian territory,” Putin added.

Kyiv’s Drive for Former F-16 Pilots

Among their recommendations to support Ukraine, Graham and Blumenthal also endorsed a plan for Ukraine to recruit retired F-16 pilots from NATO military service.

The NATO alliance began working to prepare Ukraine’s air force to use F-16s last year, but the success of the effort has depended on Ukrainian fighter pilots learning to operate a new aircraft.

Last week, Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian pilots had begun using the aircraft, but stated that more jets and qualified pilots were needed to shift the war’s momentum.

“President Zelenskyy informed us that he intends to recruit retired NATO F-16 fighter pilots to strengthen his air force,” Blumenthal and Graham stated.

“We support this initiative. Ukraine is already deploying ground units, and a similar volunteer force should be established in the air.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, on Aug. 4, 2024. (Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters)

Allowing Ukraine to enlist former NATO F-16 pilots, including those from the US, could pose 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,” a US defense spokesman stated in an email.

“Decisions regarding such matters are complex and involve various considerations, including legal, operational, and diplomatic factors.”

The Epoch Times reached out to Graham and Blumenthal’s offices for additional insight on the potential hurdles of allowing Ukraine to recruit retired NATO pilots. However, no response was received by publication.

The White House was also contacted for comment on the pilot recruiting proposal but did not respond.

US Election Could Impact Ukraine Outcomes

Though Graham and Blumenthal presented a united front of bipartisan US support for Ukraine’s war efforts, they could face challenges in the run-up to the 2024 US elections.

Both the US House and Senate are scheduled to reconvene from Sept. 9 to Sept. 30.

Following that, members of Congress are expected to return to their districts and reconvene on Nov. 12, a week after the 2024 elections.

US support for Ukraine has been a divisive issue for Republicans, particularly as former President Donald Trump, the face of the Republican Party, has expressed a desire to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict rather than increase military and financial aid to Kyiv.