Staff Reports
During a "Morning Joe" interview on MSNBC, Hillary Clinton, a former Secretary of State, Senator, and First Lady, advocated for an increase in military aid to Ukraine. The interview, which featured Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska, who was in the United Arab Emirates at the time, touched on the Ukrainian people's pursuit of democracy and freedom. When host Joe Scarborough asked Clinton about this, she expressed admiration for the Ukrainian people's determination and urged for an immediate boost in military support for Ukraine.
.@HillaryClinton: Ukraine's war-fighting "is so inspiring to me. I hope it is inspiring to every American, particularly those in positions to make decisions. Because we have to continue, and I would even argue, increase the military support that we give the Ukrainians" pic.twitter.com/WbZuPI9sXE
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) March 10, 2023
During the interview, Clinton was asked if the increased military support for Ukraine should involve F-16 fighter jets. She responded by stating that it should instead include air cover, long-range missiles, and defensive systems provided by the United States and its NATO allies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been requesting F-16s from Western countries since the conflict began, but he has not yet received them. President Joe Biden has stated that F-16s for Ukraine are not on the table "at the moment," and other officials have indicated that they do not believe the jets are the most crucial form of assistance that Ukraine could receive in the current stage of the conflict.
Welcome Secretary @HillaryClinton to our community! The former secretary of state, U.S. senator, and First Lady will become a faculty member at @ColumbiaSIPA and @Columbia World Projects on February 1. Read the announcement from Dean Keren @YarhiMilo: https://t.co/4AxXVrEEc5 pic.twitter.com/hyqrTDLwq5
— Columbia | SIPA (@ColumbiaSIPA) January 5, 2023
‘So Inspiring To Me’: Hillary Clinton Calls For Increased Military Aid For Ukraine https://t.co/Rva5iAK6Tw
— US Burning (@UsBurning) March 10, 2023
In spite of this, two Ukrainian pilots were in Arizona last weekend to receive evaluations on F-16 simulators for potential future training purposes, according to defense officials. The full interview with “Morning Joe” featuring Clinton and Zelenska is set to air Monday morning.
The lack of military support from the Biden administration to safeguard Ukraine's democracy and freedom is worrisome. The situation is particularly alarming as Ukraine has been seeking F-16 fighter jets since the beginning of the conflict, and President Biden has not taken any action to provide them. This appears to suggest that President Biden is not taking the Russian aggression threat seriously, as he has not provided Ukraine with the required military assistance they need to defend themselves.
The decision of the Biden administration to withhold F-16 fighter jets and military support from Ukraine should be reevaluated. It is crucial for the United States to stand with Ukraine in their efforts to combat Russian aggression and provide them with the necessary military aid to defend their democracy and freedom. Anything less than this would be a disservice to the Ukrainian people and a demonstration of weakness by the Biden administration.
