US lawmakers demand US send arms to Ukraine
Iran Press TV
Sun Mar 23, 2014 6:19PM GMT
A number of US lawmakers are demanding the US administration to send arms to Ukraine.
Rep. Mike Rogers (R- Mich.) chairman of the House Intelligence Committee said during an interview on NBC's 'Meet the Press that "You can do non-combatant military aid in a way that allows them (Ukraine) to defend themselves."
He urged the Obama administration to dispatch small weapons and other military equipment to aid Ukraine. Rogers also urged providing medical supplies, radio equipment and unspecified "defensive posture weapons systems."
Rogers said sending arms to Ukraine would send a message to Russian president Vladimir Putin: "Mr. Putin we're done with you expanding into other countries. He goes to bed at night thinking of Peter the Great, he wakes up thinking of Stalin. We need to understand who he is and what he wants."
"We need to be a little bit tougher with Putin … or he is going to continue to take the territory."
Another Republican Senator, Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H), who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said "It's so important that we take actions to deter further Russian aggression against the Ukrainian people," said Ayotte,
The New Hampshire senator, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Putin is "a bully. And bullies only understand when we punch them in the nose, but we need to do that economically. That is our strongest move at this point."
Another US Senator, Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has also said that sensing small arms to Ukraine should remain an option for the Washington.
"Keep it on the table … for the time being, help Ukraine's army get on its feet". Durbin has asked for sending by materials ranging from fuel and tires to sleeping bags and meals for the Ukraine army.
US Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) had earlier called for the US to give long-term military assistance to Ukraine calling it "the right and decent thing to do."
The US and Russia have been at loggerheads over the crisis in Ukraine and the ensuing Crimea's reintegration with Russia.
Washington and its NATO allies have slapped as well as travel bans economic and financial sanctions against Moscow that targeted a number of officials, businessmen and the Rossiya Bank.
In a retaliatory move, Russia put sanctions on nine US officials. Three White House aides and five top-ranking US senators, including House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), were among the Russia's list.
In a referendum that was held on March 16, the people in Crimea voted overwhelmingly (about 96% of voters) to back seceding from Ukraine and joining Russia.
DDB/DDB
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