Ayotte Statement Regarding President's Comments on Situation in Ukraine

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte released the following statement regarding the President's comments today about the situation in Ukraine:

"I welcome the administration's imposition of additional sanctions against Russia, but I was disturbed by the President's comment today dismissing Ukraine's request for weapons from the United States. The President's Ambassador to the U.N. has said Russia has provided separatists in Ukraine tanks, armored vehicles, rocket launchers, and advanced air defense systems. The Ukrainian military was gutted by former President Yanukovych. The democratically elected Ukrainian government is fighting for its life against an opponent that is armed with advanced weaponry from Russia that has enabled the separatists to shoot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, as well as a Ukrainian transport plane and fighter jet.

"The best way to prevent Ukrainian bloodshed is to give them the arms they need to defend their country and defeat the Russian-backed separatists. The better equipped the Ukrainians are, the sooner they can bring this conflict to an end and the sooner Putin will discover that the cost for aggression in Ukraine and elsewhere is too high."

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