Bipartisan lawmakers call on Biden to form ‘aid airlift into Ukraine’

FIRST ON FOX: A bipartisan group of lawmakers referred to as on President Biden to type an “worldwide humanitarian help airlift” into Ukraine amid Russian President Vladimir Putin’s brutal struggle.

Reps. Younger Kim, R-Calif., and Lou Correa, D-Calif., are main the letter, which was first obtained by Fox Information Digital. 

“We write to you at this time in help of creating a world humanitarian help airlift into Ukraine to ship urgently wanted provides to the Ukrainian individuals,” they wrote. “Because the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to kill civilians and destroy properties, it’s needed for the US to behave instantly to save lots of lives.”

The letter was despatched to Biden on Monday.

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“Whereas we commend your Administration for taking motion to approve Congressional funding for humanitarian and army help for Ukraine and dealing with our allies and companions to impose sanctions on Russian President Putin and his authorities, extra should be executed to help the individuals of Ukraine and cease the struggle,” they continued.

The lawmakers wrote that Ukrainians “are trapped in bomb shelters, basements, and subways the place they’ve restricted entry to meals, water, and medication, amongst different needed provides” and slammed Russia for attacking humanitarian corridors within the war-torn nation.

“As your Administration searches for extra choices, we strongly urge the consideration of a humanitarian airlift of urgently wanted nonmilitary provides organized and supported by the U.S.,” they wrote. “In response, Russia could be compelled to both comply with supporting the supply of humanitarian help or threaten to shoot down planes carrying meals and water to a war-torn nation, which might additional isolate Russia on the world stage and encourage stronger worldwide motion.”

Rep. Lou Correa leaving the Capitol on Feb. 28, 2020. (Invoice Clark/CQ-Roll Name, Inc by way of Getty Photos)

Ukraine has lengthy referred to as for the implementation of a no-fly zone over the nation because the struggle rages on, which U.S. officers warn would rope America into the battle as Russia would view it as an act of struggle.

A strategic airlift, nonetheless, doesn’t impose a no-fly zone, however the lawmakers on the letter conceded that their proposal for the airlift “does carry dangers that planes may very well be shot down getting into Ukrainian airspace.”

“Due to this fact, we urge your Administration to instantly attain out to nations considered as nonthreatening to recruit pilots for these flights, together with Brazil, India, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates,” they wrote. 

“Flights flown from nations considered as non-hostile to Russia into Ukraine for humanitarian missions makes it troublesome for President Putin to declare them as enemy combatants and motivates Russian forces to take strict measures to keep away from focusing on them.”

United States Ambassador to the United Nations nominee Linda Thomas-Greenfield testifies throughout for her affirmation listening to on Jan. 27, 2021. (Michael Reynolds/Pool by way of AP)

The lawmakers additionally referred to as on Biden to instruct United Nations (UN) Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield “to construct help” for a world humanitarian airlift for Ukraine on the UN.

Becoming a member of Younger and Correa on the letter are a number of of their colleagues, together with Republican Reps. French Hill of Arkansas, Fred Upton of Michigan, and Victoria Spartz of Indiana, who was born in Ukraine.

“The U.S. has an ethical duty to save lots of lives the place doable in Ukraine,” they wrote. “Establishing and organizing a world humanitarian help airlift supplies the U.S. and our allies and companions with a non-escalatory methodology of carrying out this whereas countering Putin’s purpose to starve the individuals of Ukraine.”

President Joe Biden speaks on the Nationwide League of Cities Congressional Metropolis Convention, Monday, March 14, 2022, in Washington.
(AP Photograph/Patrick Semansky)

The letter was additionally despatched to a number of Biden administration officers, together with Thomas-Greenfield, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and U.S. Company for Worldwide Improvement (USAID) administrator Samantha Energy.

Putin’s barbaric struggle continues to rage in Ukraine, creating carnage that has pushed Biden to label his Russian counterpart a struggle felony.