01.25.23

McConnell Welcomes Overdue Announcements on New Ukraine Aid

‘These drawdowns of Western arsenals must also prompt serious work to expand the capacity of our defense industrial bases. The Biden Administration’s efforts on this front are overdue, but important. And I hope more of our allies will follow suit by moving quickly to put critical munitions and weapons systems under contract and expanding industrial capacity.’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Ukraine:

“Here on the floor yesterday, I called on America’s European allies, including Germany, to do more to equip Ukraine with long-requested tanks – not just to resist Russian aggression, but to defeat it.

“I have consistently called on the Biden Administration to be more proactive and to lead by example in delivering lethal aid like long-range weapons with greater urgency.

“Well, I was happy to learn yesterday and this morning that, indeed, both the White House and their counterparts in Germany are finally moving forward with these overdue steps.

“Germany has announced it will supply Ukraine with an initial 14 Leopard 2 tanks, and the Biden Administration is expected to send at least 30 M1 Abrams tanks, as well.

“Now that Berlin has taken this step, I hope and expect that Germany and other European countries with these tanks in their inventory will move expeditiously to transport them to Ukraine.

“Modern Main Battle Tanks will provide highly maneuverable, armored firepower that will help Ukraine liberate territory and keep pressure on the Russian aggressors, but time is of the essence.

“Of course, as we rush these long-overdue capabilities to Ukraine, the West’s work is far from over.

“These drawdowns of Western arsenals must also prompt serious work to expand the capacity of our defense industrial bases. The Biden Administration’s efforts on this front are overdue, but important. And I hope more of our allies will follow suit by moving quickly to put critical munitions and weapons systems under contract and expanding industrial capacity.”

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Related Issues: National Security, Ukraine