SC’s members of Congress moved by Ukraine President Zelenskyy’s speech, urge for more help
South Carolina’s members of Congress called for continued U.S. aid to Ukraine after the country’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave an impassioned speech to the body Wednesday.
“This morning, my colleagues and I heard a powerful message from President Zelenskyy about the horrors his people are enduring from Putin’s unjust war,” House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, a Columbia Democrat, tweeted after the speech. “We must continue to work with our allies and partners to responsibly get Ukraine the resources they need.”
In his speech, Zelenskyy compared Russia’s invasion to 9/11 and the attack on Pearl Harbor, saying that his country was having to live through it every day.
Zelenskyy also pleaded for the U.S. to support a NATO no-fly zone over the Ukraine, a move that NATO has thus far refused to institute. At this time, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said he didn’t support it, calling it an escalation.
However, Graham, who called Zelenskyy’s speech “moving” and “inspiring,” said he could change his mind in the future. Graham said he instead supported a Ukrainian-instituted no-fly zone.
“This is a moment in history that everyone will be watching and judging how this unfolds,” Graham said during a press conference after the speech. “We have a chance in real time to make a difference.”
Graham also urged the Biden administration to support a plan for Poland to send fighter planes to the Ukraine, a plan the Pentagon shot down last week. The Seneca Republican also pushed the administration to send planes to Poland to back fill their supply if they were to send their planes to the Ukraine. And he reiterated his call for Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to be removed from power.
“The question is can we do more and should we do more?” Graham said. “The answer is ‘yes’ to both.”
U.S. Rep. William Timmons, R-Greenville, also expressed frustrations that the U.S. isn’t doing more to aid Ukrainians. He echoed Graham’s call for fighter jets to be sent to Ukraine.
“Weakness invites instability, & it is evident right now that Putin is calling the shots,” Timmons tweeted. “Russia is killing innocent women & children in Ukraine in an effort to break them. We must use every tool at our disposal, short of beginning a world war, to help the Ukrainian people.”
Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott called on the Biden administration to send more lethal weapons to Ukraine.
“We have to give him the tools to defend himself,” Scott said. “Peace comes through strength.”
On Tuesday, Biden signed a $1.5 trillion spending bill, which includes $13.6 billion earmarked to assist Ukraine. The money is slated to go toward defensive military equipment, training and aid for refugees in the Ukraine and in nearby countries.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-Daniel, applauded the aid.
“Congress has led the way in support for Ukraine including approving broad sanctions and $13.4 billion in assistance and lethal aid against Putin’s illegal and indefensible invasion of Ukraine,” Mace said in a statement. “The U.S. and our NATO allies will never waiver in our support for Ukraine. We will deliver economic and humanitarian assistance, and we will continue our support for defensive measures.”
This story was originally published March 16, 2022 at 12:33 PM.
