McConnell claims Ukraine border security is needed for U.S. safety

By 
 February 25, 2023

U.S. Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is arguing that America needs to continue financing Ukraine in order to ensure its own safety. 

According to the Washington Examiner, McConnell made this argument on Friday during a speech that he gave in Finland.

This came during a diplomatic, taxpayer-funded trip that McConnell recently made to allied European countries.

The main thrust of McConnell's speech was to argue for the continuance of America's financial support of Ukraine in its ongoing battle with Russia.

"It is not an act of charity"

In his speech, McConnell argued that providing funding to Ukraine was not an "act of charity" but an investment for America.

"As my fellow leading Republicans and I have explained, it is not an act of charity for the United States and our NATO allies to help supply the Ukrainian people’s self-defense," McConnell said. "It is a direct investment in our own core national interests."

From there, McConnell went on to claim that America's security is "deeply intertwined" with Ukraine.

"America is a world power with worldwide interests," McConnell said. "Our security and prosperity are deeply intertwined with a secure and stable Europe."

McConnell proceeded to try to explain how exactly America's safety is tied to Ukraine. In part, it appears that he based his argument on the idea that when America sends weaponry to Ukraine it allows America to replace this old weaponry with new weaponry, thereby, strengthening America's own defense.

Background

Friday marked the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. To mark the event, the United States government, on Friday, pledged another $2 billion in aid to Ukraine, adding to the tens of billions that America has already sent to Ukraine over the past year. America has now spent some $32 billion in military aid alone on Ukraine.

While many agree with McConnell's position - that America ought to keep funding Ukraine - many others are arguing that America ought to reconsider.

There is a push in the U.S. House of Representatives, with the Republicans' new majority, to, at the very least, more closely scrutinize the funding that is being sent to Ukraine. This is being supported by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

A seemingly smaller number of Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), want the United States government to stop funding Ukraine altogether.

For now, it appears as though there is not enough support in Congress to end the U.S. government's funding of Ukraine.

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