Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), co-founder and chairman of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement.
Providing lethal weapons to Ukraine will send a clear message that America stands with the Ukrainian people in their nearly four year struggle to secure a democratic, prosperous and independent future for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. This decision – while long overdue – will reverse the Obama administration’s de facto arms embargo against Ukraine and will finally allow Ukraine to access the tools it needs to defend itself. As co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and author of several provisions authorizing expanded U.S. military assistance – including lethal aid – and establishing the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, I hope that this decision opens the door to the full implementation of the bipartisan legislation Congress has already passed to help the Ukrainians defend themselves against Russian aggression.
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Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-N.J.), a member of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus who represents a large Ukrainian American population in northern New Jersey, released the following statement.
As an original sponsor of the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, which authorized the administration to sell defensive lethal arms to Ukraine, I know this decision was long overdue. Ukrainian forces will start to receive the support needed to push back against specific threats from ongoing Russian aggression.
With news reports of increased aggression by Russian backed forces in Ukraine, I know our ally in Ukraine will see this as a welcomed first step. However, I hope it is not the last. We cannot give our allies in Ukraine false hope by signaling our support in their fight with our left hand and trying to cozy up to the leader of Russia with our right.
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Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement.
The president’s decision is a good first step to give the Ukrainian people the means to defend themselves. The best way to stop Russian aggression is to deter it. I am hopeful that approval will also be given to future sales of anti-tank weapons and other heavy arms.