WASHINGTON — More then 40 Senate Republicans have called on the Biden Administration to help transfer Soviet-era aircraft to Ukraine to allow it to defend itself against Russian forces.
“So far, Russian forces were thwarted by stiff Ukrainian resistance. We must intensify our efforts to stop a brutal and illegal takeover of Ukraine. “We urge your administration to cooperate with Poland and NATO allies to speed up the transfer of urgently needed airpower, air defence systems, combat and support capabilities from the United States and other European partners, to Ukraine,” the senators wrote to President Joe Biden on Thursday.
After the U.S.. rejected a proposal from Poland to transfer its Soviet-era MiG fighter jets to Ukraine through a U.S. military base in Germany, 42 Republicans signed the letter including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Officials in Poland rejected the proposal to transfer Soviet-era MiG fighter aircraft to Ukraine via a U.S. military bases in Germany.
According to the Defense Department, such a handover is a “high-risk” move that could increase tensions with Russia or lead to direct military conflict.
Officials in Western countries worry that if Ukrainian pilots travel to NATO countries to take up fighter jets to fly back into contested Ukrainian airspace where they may have to engage Russian fighters, Moscow might view the country as a combatant and thus fair game. The core principle of NATO, as stated in Article5, is that any attack on any member state is an attack upon all. This means that all 30 members would have to participate in the fight.
U.S. intelligence and military officials also concluded that adding more jets would not significantly impact the effectiveness of Ukraine’s air force. Experts outside of government have also noted that Ukraine has not deployed many of its MiGs. They are now questioning whether the country has the infrastructure to support these aircraft. This includes pilots and mechanics, as well as extra parts and munitions.
However, the senators stated in their letter that they were not satisfied with the Pentagon’s explanation for why the U.S. declined to approve Poland’s plan.
At a news conference on Thursday, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said, “Send these MiGs,” along with other GOP colleagues. “And the question is: well, why aren’t they being sent?” We’ve known for days that this topic is being discussed. Let’s stop talking. Send the planes they need to save lives.
He said, “That’s exactly what they want.” “They’re there. They can see what they want.
Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican from South Carolina) said that it was a “good Day for Putin, bad for the Ukraine, and a dishonorable Day for America” as the U.S. has not provided Ukraine with an aircraft to protect its airspace.
The eight GOP senators that did not sign the letter were Jim Inhofe from Oklahoma, Bill Hagerty in Tennessee, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Rounds in South Dakota. Mike Lee of Utah was Mike Lee of Utah. Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming was Roy Blunt.
