Espreso. Global

‘Guys, wake up’: European MPs urge US lawmakers to support Ukraine in war against Russia

9 February, 2024 Friday
12:55

On February 8, high-ranking legislators from Northern European and Baltic countries expressed concern in Washington over what they called a lack of urgency and clear strategy from the United States regarding assistance to Ukraine

client/title.list_title

Reuters reported the information.

Legislators stated that Russian leader Vladimir Putin plans to seize more European territories if he succeeds in Ukraine, increasing the risk of a NATO conflict that would result in significant human and economic losses.

"Guys, wake up," Zygimantis Pavilionis, chairman of the Lithuanian parliament's foreign affairs committee, said in comments directed at Democrats and Republicans. "Are you ready to defeat enemy No. 1 that is acting like the Hitler of today?"

The heads of parliamentary committees on foreign affairs from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and Norway concluded a two-day visit aimed at accelerating new assistance from the United States.

The delegation members stated that they met with administration officials and lawmakers, but primarily sought to engage with Republicans who are resistant to the new aid. According to them, only one skeptical Republican member of the House of Representatives agreed to meet with them.

There "wasn't a sense of urgency," said Latvian parliamentarian Rihards Kols, adding it was "bizarre" that some American lawmakers urged the Europeans to engage more with U.S. citizens to explain the stakes of a Russian victory.

Several delegation members criticized President Joe Biden for opposing Ukraine's admission to NATO and his strategy of "doing what it takes" to aid Kyiv.

Delegation members said they repeatedly heard Europe was not doing enough to help Ukraine. Kols called this a false assertion that "has really played into Putin's cards" with narratives of war fatigue.

"All of our countries around this table have (given) more than 1% of GDP of military aid to Ukraine. The U.S. stands (at) around 0.3%," said Mihkelson.

According to Kols, Russia has massively boosted its military budget, its defense industries are operating around the clock and Moscow is importing Western technologies despite international sanctions. "We should not underestimate their will to outlast us," he continued. "They don't care about human lives. They don't care about the cost. We should wake up."

  • On January 31, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and other members of the congressional leadership to discuss support for Ukraine.
  • On February 1, it was reported that U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson believes the U.S. national security program, which includes assistance to Ukraine, may face division over border policy reform.
  • On February 3, Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson said that next week there would be a vote on a separate $17.6 billion aid package for Israel without aid to Ukraine.
  • On February 4, at the third annual Ukraine Week summit held in Washington, D.C., a delegation of the Baltic states called on the U.S. Congress to provide funding for Ukraine.
  • On February 5, the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden announced its plans to veto the bill to provide aid to Israel, as the White House considers it incomplete.
  • During his address to Congress, U.S. President Joe Biden called Trump the main problem in providing assistance to Ukraine.
  • On February 6, House Republicans did not support Speaker Mike Johnson's bill to provide military aid to Israel without aid to Ukraine.
  • Earlier, the U.S. Senate did not vote for the bill, which includes funds for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and strengthening border security with Mexico. Biden reacted.
  • On February 8, the upper house of the U.S. Congress, the Senate, adopted a procedural decision to consider a bill to provide additional aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan without the border issue.
Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2024, Friday
26 July
21:54
Exclusive
Explosive-laden jet ski near Istanbul, allegedly Ukrainian, not a working maritime drone — Defense Express
21:34
Сomponents from more than 20 countries found in Russian missiles and drones
21:15
Russia uses cheap drones to detect Ukraine's air defences
20:52
Russia strikes Nikopol district nearly 20 times in one day, leaving man wounded
20:35
North Korea claims Belarus promises to "expand cooperation"
20:14
Russia is unlikely to run out of military equipment in 2025 - Estonian intelligence
19:55
78 clashes occur at front, Russian troops focus on Pokrovsk, Kurakhove directions - Ukraine's General Staff
19:30
Russian vessel violates Finnish water space
19:16
Russian oligarch faces suspicion over supplying Ukrainian titanium to Russia
18:59
Updated
EU allocates €1.5 billion to Ukraine of proceeds from frozen Russian assets. Kremlin responds
18:42
Exclusive
Russia deploys 'assault meat' in Bakhmut sector, says NGU Major
18:22
Ukrainian forces carry out combat missions near Krynky: update on Kherson sector
17:54
UK urges China to stop its companies from supporting Russian military
17:28
Russian drone drops explosives near store in Kherson, wounding 5 civilians
17:05
Russian Ex-Deputy Defence Minister Bulgakov arrested in Moscow for corruption
16:46
Exclusive
SBU reserve colonel shares two versions who killed ex-MP Iryna Farion
16:28
Ukrainian farmers harvest over 22 million tons of new crops
16:10
Russia's defense industry increases production of Kh-101 cruise missiles
15:47
Russian Su-30 fighter jet
Russian milbloggers complain after strike on Saki airfield, admit lack of shelter
15:20
Monument to Russian soldier, who killed civilians, appears in Mariupol
14:55
British Intelligence gives reason why Russia canceled Navy Day parade in 2024
14:30
OPINION
Without Ukrainians' position, all peace plans are empty talk
14:15
Updated
Ukrainian forces target Saky airfield in occupied Crimea overnight
13:44
Russia prepares to build up its occupation troops in Ukraine. What is behind this decision?
13:20
OPINION
West fears Russia's defeat as much as Ukraine's defeat
12:59
Kremlin twists Ukrainian laws to justify reluctance for good-faith negotiations - ISW
12:36
Ukrainian intelligence names weakest point of Russia's military machine
12:15
Russian army drops glide bombs on Kharkiv region, wounding 2 civilians, damaging homes
11:52
Review
Kurakhove and Pokrovsk battles, Russia's tank inventory. Serhiy Zgurets' column
11:30
Exclusive
Ukraine's FM in China sought to change Beijing's position and intensify peacekeeping efforts, diplomat Khara says
11:06
Romania summons Russian diplomat over Shahed drone fragments
10:25
Updated
Russian drones attacks power facilities in Ukraine's two regions, injuring civilian
10:05
Russia attacks Ukraine with Iskander-M missile, 22 Shahed UAVs overnight
09:42
Longest air raid alert ends in Kharkiv, Ukraine
09:27
Russia loses 950 troops, 73 UAVs, 7 tanks in one day of war in Ukraine
2024, Thursday
25 July
21:40
Review
Victorious news of 883rd day of war: Netherlands, Denmark to supply 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine, soldiers of 79th Brigade repel one of Russia’s largest assaults 
21:25
Ukrainian boxer Usyk meets with Ukraine's former army chief Zaluzhnyi in London
21:11
OPINION
Kuleba’s visit to China: Many questions, few answers
20:54
Ukraine boycotts UN Security Council meeting chaired by Russia
20:36
Exclusive
Defense Express explains whether Russia and China can build tunnel under Kerch Strait
More news