Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) on Sunday called the type of fighting taking place in eastern Ukraine “essentially trench warfare” just days after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
King, who is a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Armed Services Committee, told CBS’s “Face the Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan that the Biden administration will free up $3 billion to help Ukraine. in their efforts to avoid a crisis. Russian offensive.
“I mean, they’re just getting beaten up. That’s too soft a word in terms of your energy infrastructure. So the air defenses are part of that, the Patriot missiles. But also what is happening in the east is essentially trench warfare. It’s almost World War I. It’s horrible,” King said.
King, accompanied by Sen. Jack Reed (DR.I.), was in Ukraine on Friday to show solidarity with Ukrainians and also to exercise “responsibility” for US funds in the country.
He The Biden administration announced a $3.75 billion military assistance package on Friday to send new equipment to Ukraine, including artillery systems, armored personnel carriers, surface-to-air missiles and munitions.
King said such vehicles will help give the Ukrainians a “fighting chance” to win the war.
“And to put it in perspective for Americans, it’s as if our east coast, from Maine to Florida and then west to Houston, Texas, is being occupied by a foreign power,” King said.
“The entire eastern edge of Ukraine is occupied,” King added. “And that’s where this fight is going to be. And that is why these maneuvering vehicles are going to be so important.”
This new package for Ukraine marks the 29th delivery of US weapons and equipment to the country since August 2021. Other allies, including France and Germany, have also announced that they will send armored vehicles to Ukraine in support of their war efforts.
