U.S., Germany must send weapons to Ukraine, says McCaul

U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) is frustrated that the United States and Germany haven’t yet decided to provide additional and much-needed weapons to Ukraine, which continues battling against Russia’s unprovoked war. 

“I think that we cannot slow-walk the weapons in… I’ve been a proponent of let’s give them what they need,” said Sen. McCaul during a Sunday interview with CNN’s “State of the Union” with Dana Bash.

Specifically, the senator said that the U.S. has failed to include Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) in the latest arms package for Ukraine, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has refused to approve the transfer of Leopard 2 tanks to the embattled country. Sen. McCaul said on Sunday that he’s heard that Germany is waiting for the U.S. to take the lead on delivering weapons. 

“I am extremely disappointed that the Biden and Scholz governments continue to deny Ukraine longer-range ATACMS and western Leopard 2 tanks,” said Rep. McCaul, chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, in a Jan. 19 statement released by the committee.

Ukrainians for months have requested ATACMS, which are longer-range missiles, to help liberate their sovereign territory and target command and control sites for Iranian drones being used by the Russian military to target critical civilian and energy infrastructure, according to information provided by the congressman’s staff. 

“Every time the administration has delayed sending Ukraine a critical weapon system, from Stingers to HIMARS to Bradleys, over fears of Russian escalation, they have been proven completely and utterly wrong,” Rep. McCaul said. “Instead, these cowardly decisions based on misguided fears of escalation are prolonging this war, emboldening Russia, and condemning thousands of Ukrainians to horrific war crimes, other atrocities and even death.”