Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) emphasized the immediate need for support to Ukraine in an interview on Sunday. He warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not cease his aggression, even if he achieves victory in the ongoing conflict with Kyiv.
During an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” Senator Graham expressed his concerns regarding the situation in Ukraine. He emphasized that giving Putin control over Ukraine would not satisfy his ambitions, stating, “If you give Putin Ukraine, he will not stop.” Graham further explained that the issue extends beyond containing NATO, as it also has implications for other nations, such as Taiwan. He highlighted the importance of considering China’s response, as they are closely observing how the international community handles the Ukrainian crisis.
Graham, who strongly supports Ukraine, was engaged in a discussion about the Senate’s reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act’s (FISA) warrantless surveillance program for a period of two years. This legislation allows the government to continue its surveillance activities on foreign individuals located outside the United States. However, there has been some concern from privacy advocates as it also involves the collection of communications involving American citizens who are in contact with these foreigners.
“I’m curious about the conversations happening over there, to understand the potential threats we face before it’s too late. By shutting down this operation, we would be undermining our efforts in fighting a war and turning it into a criminal act,” Graham passionately expressed. “We’re not dealing with petty crimes here; we’re dealing with a determined group of individuals who would not hesitate to harm us if given the chance. Therefore, when we intercept communications involving foreigners discussing America, it is crucial for us to gain insight into their discussions.”
Graham’s comments on the dangers posed by foreign adversaries and Putin come in the wake of the House’s passage of a significant foreign aid bill. This bill was approved after months of deadlock and disagreement among lawmakers.
The lawmakers approved the package in a series of four votes. The package encompasses approximately $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, $8 billion for allies in the Indo-Pacific, and a range of other national security measures. Among these measures is a potential ban on the popular social media app, TikTok.
The Senate is expected to pass the package in the middle of the week.
According to Graham, the Ukranian military, with our assistance, has successfully neutralized approximately 50 percent of the Russian combat capabilities. This marks a significant milestone in the ongoing conflict. Graham emphasized the importance of providing further support to Ukraine, ensuring they have access to advanced weaponry to counter the increasing arsenal of the Russian forces. The focus is on empowering Ukraine to maintain a strong defense and effectively deter any potential aggression.
He firmly rejected the notion that giving up on Ukraine would make the world safer, emphasizing the tenacity of the Ukrainian people in their fight. According to him, if we were to abandon Ukraine due to perceived lack of capability, it could send a dangerous message to other nations like Taiwan. He firmly stated his belief that we can support Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan simultaneously, dismissing any claim to the contrary.
