-
Senators Lindsay Graham, Richard Blumenthal and Sheldon Whitehouse were in Kyiv on Friday.
-
After meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Graham urged Western countries to send tanks.
-
“Putin is trying to rewrite the map of Europe by force,” said Graham.
Senator Lindsey Graham urged the US and Germany to send tanks to the Ukrainian army during a visit to Kyiv on Friday. This is because Western defense officials met in Germany and did not agree to send weapons.
South Carolina Republicans visited Ukraine with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island. His three deputies, who have supported sending an aide to Ukraine, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“All three of us, one Republican and two Democrats, share the same goal: Ukraine to drive the Russians out of Ukraine. Is required” Press conference after the meeting and twitter“I’m fed up with the silly show about who will send the tanks and when. Putin is trying to redraw the map of Europe by force. The world order is at stake.”
Graham’s request came when US and German defense officials could not agree to send tanks to Ukraine.Kiev asked NATO and other European countries to send German-made Leopard 2 tanks However, this would require German approval. Insider Jake Epstein Previously reported.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said he does not want to approve sending German-made tanks to Ukraine unless the United States sends its own tanks. Several reportKyiv also asked to send to the United States Powerful M1 Abrams Tankbut President Joe Biden avoided doing so.
Western defense officials who met in Germany on Friday were unable to reach agreement on the issue, prompting criticism from German officials. Ukraine When PolandHowever, both U.S. and German officials suggested the latter might still allow Leopards to be dispatched, while Germany would develop an inventory of its own tanks. Poland also says it may even send Leopard tanks To Ukraine without Berlin’s approval.
“To the Germans: Send tanks to Ukraine because they need them. What Putin loses in Ukraine is your own national interest,” Graham said Friday. “To the Biden Administration: Send America’s tanks so others will follow our lead.”
Read the original article at business insider