Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) emphasized the importance of backing Ukraine and cautioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin won't stop, even if he prevails in the conflict with Kyiv.
Graham conveyed that giving Ukraine to Putin would not satisfy him and suggested that it could have repercussions for other countries like Taiwan due to China's observation of the situation.
Graham, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, discussed the Senate’s extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act’s (FISA) warrantless surveillance program. The legislation extends the authority to monitor foreign individuals abroad for another two years, a move that has raised concerns from privacy advocates as it also collects the communications of Americans they interact with.
Graham highlighted the importance of gathering information from foreign individuals to prevent potential threats and emphasized the importance of the surveillance program in national security efforts.
Graham's comments on the dangers posed by foreign adversaries and Putin followed the House's approval of a substantial foreign aid bill after prolonged debate and division among lawmakers.
The approved package includes approximately $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, $8 billion for allies in the Indo-Pacific, and additional national security measures, which could potentially involve prohibiting the TikTok app.
The package will now move to the Senate, where it is anticipated to receive approval in the middle of the week.
“The Ukranian military, with our help, has killed about 50 percent of the combat power of the Russians,” Graham stated. “This is the year [of] more. They’re going to have more weapons, but we also want them to have new weapons.”
Graham stressed that abandoning support for Ukraine could have implications for other countries, rejecting the notion that assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan cannot happen simultaneously due to insufficient capability.
