Congressman Jared Golden | Jared Golden Official website
Congressman Jared Golden | Jared Golden Official website
WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) on May 17 led a bipartisan group of 14 lawmakers in urging the Biden Administration to provide F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine as Kyiv continues its fight against Russia’s unprovoked and brutal invasion one year into the conflict.
“As a bipartisan group of lawmakers, we view the transfer of F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine as essential for providing Kyiv with the air support capability required to fully defend their nation against Russia’s unprovoked, illegal, and brutal invasion, and to make the territorial gains necessary to reclaim their country,” wrote the lawmakers.
The letter is a follow-up to an earlier effort also led by Congressman Golden and is especially salient in light of recent reports that European Allies are ramping up their own push to deliver F16s to Ukraine.
“Senior Administration officials have indicated that consideration of whether to provide Ukraine with F-16s or similar fourth-generation fighter aircraft is not appropriate in the near term due to their more urgent need for materials such as artillery, land-based air defense systems, and tanks that will assist Kiev with its upcoming offensive this spring,” continued the lawmakers. “Respectfully, this is an artificial and false choice. The United States can provide Ukraine with both immediate military assistance to defend against Russian advances and in preparation for Kyiv’s expected spring offensive while simultaneously beginning the process of providing Ukraine with long-term air superiority capability.”
Joining Golden to push for support for Ukraine were Representatives Tony Gonzales (TX-23), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Don Bacon (NE-02), Jim Costa (CA-21), Wiley Nickel (NC-13), August Pfluger (TX-11), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), Mike Turner (OH-10), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Elissa Slotkin (MI-07), and Rob Wittman (VA-01).
The letter can be read here.
Original source can be found here
Alerts Sign-up