Russia ‘gravest threat to Europe’: US Senator McCain

Europe, News, US February 6, 2015 , by IRIA No Comments

US Republican Senator John McCain has described Russia as “the gravest threat to Europe” due to the country’s “invasion” of Ukraine.

“Russia’s invasion of sovereign territory of Ukraine, which has continued unabated in the face of political and economic sanctions, is the gravest threat to European security in decades,” McCain said.

Speaking at a press conference by the ranking members of the Armed Services Committee on Thursday, he called on the Obama administration to “help Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression.”

“The United States must act with urgency to provide defensive lethal assistance to Ukraine,” said McCain, the chairman of the committee.

Meanwhile, a group of more than 30 Republican and Democratic lawmakers urged President Obama to provide weapons to Ukraine.

“We are calling on the administration to increase its support for Ukraine. Tighter sanctions and greater humanitarian assistance should be part of that support, but now, more than ever, the US must supply Ukraine with the means to defend itself,” they wrote in a letter.

Visiting Ukraine on Thursday, Secretary of State John Kerry said President Obama is “reviewing all his options.”

He said “among those options obviously is the possibility of providing defensive systems to Ukraine.”

The US accuses Russia of supporting pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine, an allegation denied by the Kremlin.

SB/AGB