Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy blasted the Biden administration’s handling of the war in Ukraine, claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘probably’ wouldn’t have invaded the country if America had sent arms to Kyiv sooner.
During an appearance on Fox News Sunday, McCarthy, who was part of a group of bipartisan House members who traveled to Poland earlier this month, said he witnessed the Ukrainian people’s ‘fortitude’ in the face of the ‘devastation’ that Russia is causing in Ukraine.
‘This is going to get stronger and rougher, and what really needs to happen is Ukraine is not asking for American men and women to fight,’ the California Republican said on Fox News Sunday.
‘All they’re asking for is the weapons to defend themselves.’
‘If we would have taken those actions earlier instead of waiting until after Russia invaded, they probably never would have invaded, had we done that sooner,’ he said.
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Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy, pictured, blasting the Biden administration’s handling of war in Ukraine during an appearance on Fox News Sunday
McCarthy, pictured, claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘probably’ wouldn’t have invaded the country if America had sent arms to Kyiv sooner
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a video conference call with permanent members of the Russian Security Council
Last week, the Biden administration announced it was delivering $800 million in additional military assistance to Ukraine, bringing the total amount to $2.6 billion, Fox News Washington correspondent Mike Emanuel said on Sunday.
McCarthy added that he didn’t feel that Putin respected the sanctions the US and its allies have threatened to impose on Russia prior to the invasion on February 24.
‘Ukraine was craving the ability to defend themselves. Had we moved the weapons to Ukraine earlier, that they could defend themselves, it would have saved thousands of lives and probably the decision of Putin not to enter,’ McCarthy told Emanuel.
‘And then after Putin entered, we had President Biden tell us, “Well, the sanctions take a long time to work,”‘ McCarthy said.
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy thanks Army soldiers from California for their service in Poland
The Defense Minister of Poland Mariusz Baszczak, left, welcomes Leader McCarthy, right, and US lawmakers to his residence in Warsaw
US President Joe Biden speaks at the Alumni-Foundation Event Center of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina on April 14, 2022