SC’s Joe Wilson applauds Biden, bipartisan agreement on Ukraine-Russia conflict
South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson applauded the bipartisan response to the reported standoff at the Russian-Ukrainian border during a news conference in Columbia Friday afternoon.
Wilson, R-Springdale, also applauded President Joe Biden’s response to the crisis, which has remained tense over the last few weeks amid reports that Russia is preparing to invade the neighboring country.
“I’m really grateful that both political parties are unified in urging Putin not to attack the innocent people of Kiev,” Wilson told reporters Friday, adding that the bipartisan cooperation over the crisis was “refreshing” in the wake of years of partisanship.
Wilson said though he was not happy with the strength of Biden’s response in December, he now is “very pleased.” Specifically, he agreed with the president’s willingness to continue selling javelin missiles to the Ukraine, which serve as a deterrent to Russian tanks, he said.
Wilson also agreed with Biden’s Tuesday appeals to Russian citizens, in which he said the United States and intergovernmental military alliance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are not their enemy. Wilson read from Biden’s speech during a sparsely-attended Ukraine solidarity rally on the State House steps.
The Springdale Republican called out Vladamir Putin’s aggression by amassing troops on the border, but added the Russian president’s actions had unintended consequences.
“He has done something really inadvertent,” Wilson said. “This is really good. He’s united Republicans and Democrats to stand firm against aggression.”
