Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal have supported Ukraine’s military operation in Russia’s Kursk region. One of the senators also spoke about long-range weapons for Kyiv and joining NATO.
According to a Hromadske correspondent, they made this statement during a briefing on Mykhailivska Square in Kyiv.
Graham is convinced that Ukraine has every right to conduct military operations in Russia to defend itself.
What Ukraine is doing in the Kursk region is incredible, keep it up! When Russia launched a full-scale invasion, many did not believe that Ukraine would survive. But now we see that Ukraine has not only survived, Ukraine has become stronger, – he said.
According to the senator, the United States should lift all restrictions on the use of American weapons for strikes on Russian territory. He added that despite the fact that Ukraine has F-16 fighter jets, it is necessary to increase military support for Kyiv in order to “bring the victory closer”.
Blumenthal supported his colleague on the fighting in Russia. Both politicians assured that the United States intends to support Ukraine in the long term.
In addition, Senator Graham believes that it is time to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join NATO, “preferably this year”.
I ask the President [Joe Biden] to make sure that this invitation is extended before he leaves office, – said Senator Graham.
Lindsey Graham also mentioned Ukraine’s mineral resources, particularly lithium. He noted that the country is “sitting on about a trillion dollars.” Lindsey believes that it is necessary to conclude an agreement between the United States, Western allies, and Ukraine on lithium mining.
Thus, these minerals will create new jobs, strengthen Kyiv’s strategic partnership with the United States, help the West, and “will not fall into Putin’s hands”, the politician is convinced.
