WASHINGTON – After speaking with
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the weekend, Sen. Chuck Grassley
(R-Iowa) joined Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) in introducing legislation to provide
the Ukrainian military with immediate lethal aid – including aircraft as
requested by Zelenskyy, communications equipment and logistics support.
“As Ukraine continues successfully
stalling Putin’s advances in Kyiv and in other parts of the country, we must
ensure brave Ukrainian soldiers have the resources needed to further demoralize
and defeat the Russian military. By utilizing weapons, aircraft and other
equipment that’s currently sitting in warehouses, our legislation will help
provide direct support that was requested by President Zelenskyy ,” Grassley said.
“The United States is the greatest nation
on earth, but under President Biden we are allowing the Germans, the Canadians,
the Latvians, the Dutch, and the Swiss to lead in arming our freedom-loving
partners in Ukraine. After speaking with President Zelenskyy over the weekend,
it’s clear that every second counts, and we need to get additional aid to the
Ukrainians now. This bill will transfer unused aircrafts, weapons, equipment,
and additional defense support capabilities sitting in warehouses across the
world to fight back against Russian aggression,” said Ernst.
Specifically, the proposal would allow
the Secretary of Defense to immediately transfer to Ukraine aircraft, weapons,
equipment and additional defense support capabilities sitting in warehouses
across the world.
Grassley has helped
lead a number of efforts to punish Russia for its unprovoked attack on Ukraine, including to
hold Putin and his allies accountable for
war crimes. After reports indicated that Putin hired hundreds of mercenaries
from Russia’s Wagner Group to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy, Grassley and Ernst also
implored the Treasury, State and Defense departments to immediately
investigate and sanction this group.
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