Statewide Iowa — Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says any unused U.S. military weapons and equipment originally intended for use in Afghanistan should be shipped to Ukraine.
Thursday, the Biden Administration asked congress to approve 10 billion dollars more in emergency spending on humanitarian and military aid for Ukraine. Ernst says she’s encouraged by the request, but still reviewing the proposal, which is linked to additional pandemic-related spending.
During a speech on the Senate floor Thursday, Ernst called for logistical support and medical supplies as well as weapons that were originally purchased for Afghanistan to be sent to Ukraine immediately. Ernst says the U.S. has an obligation to Ukraine that dates back to 1994. That’s when Ukraine gave up the world’s third largest stockpile of nuclear weapons. Weapons abandoned as the Soviet Union fell apart.
Now that Russia has invaded Ukraine, Ernst says the U.S. must follow through on that 1994 agreement and provide far more lethal aid to Ukraine.
