U.S. Sen. Rick Scott is among several Senate Republicans urging the Biden administration to allow the transfer of fighter jets to Ukraine.
Scott signed on to a resolution, authored last week by Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, that advocates for the shipment of MiG-29 aircraft and other air-defense artillery, such as Stinger missiles, to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“I’m urging the Senate to speak with one voice, to meet the moment,” Graham said in a statement on Wednesday. “We’ve been talking. We have written letters. Now it’s time to take votes.”
“If we had a vote on the resolution to supply the Ukrainian military with the MiG fighters and other air defense systems, it would be a shot in the arm to the Ukrainian people and their military. It would be a blow to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. If we do this soon, I think it really could help the outcome of this conflict.”
According to Graham’s resolution, the MiG-29 is the primary fixed-wing aircraft in the Ukrainian military. Poland has offered to transfer some of its MiGs to Ukraine, free of charge, if the U.S. backfills its shipment.
Earlier this month, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the proposal had a “green light.” Yet a couple of days later, the Pentagon announced there was no deal. President Joe Biden reportedly killed the deal personally, claiming it could be an “escalatory step” against Putin.
The resolution contains three provisions: that Biden approve the plane transfer; that NATO continue efforts to find ways to identify other aviation and air defense “capabilities” to send to Ukraine; and expresses support for Zelenskyy and his people “in their struggle against Russian aggression.”
As The Free Press reported last week, Sen. Scott, a Florida Republican, urged Biden to approve the fighter transfer or a no-fly zone over Ukraine. He did so after hearing Zelenskyy’s gut-wrenching appeal for help in repelling the Russian army.
In a statement about Graham’s resolution, Scott said, “President Biden’s continued blockage of planes going to Ukraine is heartless and unreasonable. Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s unjust invasion is a fight for democracy and our security, and I have been clear that the United States must lead the world in both supporting Ukraine and destroying Russia for its horrific attacks and war.”
“Children are dying and the Ukrainian military needs planes to bring their fight to the skies and protect its people. The United States has the power to give Ukraine what it needs to win. We must use it,” Scott added.
Joining Graham and Scott in endorsing the resolution were Sens. Joni Ernst of Iowa, Mitt Romey of Utah, Mike Crapo of Idaho, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, James Lankford of Oklahoma, and Roger Wicker of Mississippi.
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