Ernst, Romney lead effort urging Biden to send military support to Ukraine

U.S. Sens. Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) led 40 of their GOP colleagues in requesting that President Joe Biden work with America’s NATO allies to expedite the transfer of aircraft, air defense systems and other combat and support capabilities to Ukraine. 

“Supporting Ukraine’s fight for freedom against the tyrannical, lawless Russian invasion of Ukraine’s sovereign territory is among the most urgent missions the West has faced in a generation,” the lawmakers wrote in a March 10 letter sent to Biden. “So far, Russian forces have been stymied by stiff Ukrainian resistance, and we must redouble our efforts to prevent a brutal and unlawful takeover of Ukraine.”

Sen. Ernst, Sen. Romney, and their colleagues sent the letter to Biden after the U.S. Defense Department rejected Poland’s plans to provide MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine.

“While we commend the lethal aid that your administration has sent to Ukraine thus far,” they wrote, “we strongly disagree with your decision to delay and deny Poland the option to transfer fighter jets to Ukraine. We implore you to direct your Department of Defense to facilitate the transfer of aircraft, air defense systems and other capabilities by and through our NATO partners immediately.”

Among the lawmakers who joined them in signing the letter were U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Rob Portman (R-OH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Hoeven (R-ND), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Steve Daines (R-MT), Todd Young (R-IN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Thune (R-SD), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Richard Burr (R-NC).

Sens. Romney and Ernst also held a press conference on March 10 to reiterate their request. 

“I want to underscore the feelings in my heart and the feelings of every person I know in this great country of affection and concern and hope for the people of Ukraine, and admiration of President Zelenskyy in his effort to lead the world,” Sen. Ernst said. “He has asked us for aircraft — specifically MiGs. We need to get him those MiGs.”

Sen. Ernst noted that the request to President Biden is bipartisan, and pointed out that during a hearing held earlier that morning with the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the committee’s Democrats also agreed to send the MiGs.

“And the question is, why aren’t they being sent? Because we’ve heard now for days that this is something that’s being discussed. Enough talk. People are dying,” she said. “Send them the planes that they need.”

“We’re not going to stop the killing in Ukraine until we and NATO fear Putin less than he fears us,” said Sen. Romney. “It’s time for him to fear what we might do, because frankly his military is bogged down in Ukraine and if NATO were to get activated in some way, by his provocation, why obviously he would be in a very, very weak position.”

Sen. Romney added that the MiGs should be deployed as fast as possible. “And if the administration has a reason that they’re not doing it, please tell us what it is,” he said. “Tell us what the problem is, and let’s get the job done so that we can save lives in Ukraine and defend the cause of freedom.”