Bipartisan group of senators to travel to Poland amid Russia-Ukraine war

A bipartisan group of senators is touring to Poland Saturday in a present of assist for the assistance the NATO ally has offered through the conflict in Ukraine.

Russian forces have continued to pummel Ukraine with heavy missile hearth and troop actions for 17 days, forcing thousands and thousands to flee into neighboring Poland within the largest floor conflict since World Conflict II.

“I’m proud to face with my colleagues from each side of the aisle with our buddy and ally Poland,” Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar mentioned. “Poland has been a stalwart ally to Ukraine, welcoming Ukrainian refugees and offering vital sources throughout this unprovoked assault.”

ZELENSKYY DENOUNCES ABDUCTION OF METRIPOL MAYOR, REPORTS 1,300 UKRAINIAN TROOPS LOST: LIVE UPDATES

Klobuchar, who traveled with senators Rob Portman, R-Ohio, Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., mentioned they may meet with navy and authorities leaders stationed in Poland.

“We are going to clarify our dedication to face with the Ukrainian and Polish folks towards Vladimir Putin,” she added.

The journey comes as Poland struggles beneath the sheer variety of refugees it has seen flood throughout its border with Ukraine. A bipartisan group of Home lawmakers on the Overseas Affairs Committee traveled to Poland final weekend to evaluate the refugee state of affairs on the border.

The vast majority of the two.6 million refugees which have fled violent combating and missile hearth headed instantly west with 1.6 million folks on the lookout for refuge in Poland. 

“I’m proud to hitch my colleagues on this vital journey to Poland,” mentioned Portman. “The Polish folks proceed their unwavering assist for NATO after 23 years of combating alongside the U.S. and our allies. This bipartisan delegation will ship a transparent message that the U.S. is grateful for his or her assist of Ukraine and their supply of offering fighter jets, because the folks of Ukraine proceed to endure brutal Russian atrocities.” 

Wicker additionally weighed in.

“Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked assault on Ukraine has threatened to plunge Europe into the deadliest battle since 1945,” Wicker mentioned Saturday. “Putin’s continued assault on a sovereign nation calls for a powerful and united response from the united statesand our NATO allies. I’m glad to go to Poland as we work collectively to halt Putin’s advance.”

Refugees, largely girls and youngsters, wait in a crowd for transportation after fleeing from Ukraine and arriving on the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, March 7, 2022. 
(AP Picture/Markus Schreiber, File)

BIDEN AUTHORIZES $200M MORE FOR UKRAINE MILITARY AID

Poland stunned the U.S. by saying this week that it could ship all its MiG-29 warplanes to the U.S. Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

However the Pentagon pushed again on this and mentioned deploying warplanes from a U.S. base in a NATO nation was “excessive danger” and will additional escalate Russian aggression.

The U.S. and its NATO allies have repeatedly mentioned they won’t counter Putin militarily in Ukraine however have as an alternative equipped defensive assist and focused Russia’s financial system by means of crippling sanctions.

However not all lawmakers agreed with the Pentagon’s determination, and 40 GOP senators urged the Biden administration in a letter Thursday to ship the planes to Kyiv as Russian forces proceed to advance.

A girl fleeing from Ukraine is overcome by feelings on the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, Friday, March 4, 2022.
(AP Picture/Markus Schreiber)

“Sufficient speak. Individuals are dying,” Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney mentioned throughout a press convention on the Hill. “Ship them the planes they want.”

Biden on Saturday licensed one other $200 million in defensive assist for Ukraine on high of the greater than $1 billion offered during the last yr. 

The Related Press contributed to this report.