Ukraine needs more aid, equipment — now

Bombed-out apartment buildings. Mothers, newborn babies and nurses sheltering in a hospital basement. Innocent civilians killed while waiting in a bread line. The devastation caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine has brought equal measures of shock and heartbreak to the American people, with a heavy dose of fear for what’s still to come.

Russia is attempting to destroy a sovereign country while rattling its nuclear saber at the heart of Europe. Since Ukraine is not a member of NATO, the United States has no legal obligation to join this fight, but we do have a moral obligation to provide support in every way possible. As the world’s leading democracy, we have a responsibility to stand up for freedom and push back strongly against Russian aggression.

Last month, I traveled to Poland and Germany with a bipartisan group of senators led by Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa to gain a clearer picture of the challenges our partners are facing so I can advocate for the right resources and policies in the U.S. Senate.

So far, the United States has provided billions of dollars in military, humanitarian and economic aid. These resources have been critical to the fight thus far, but more is desperately needed. The primary message my colleagues and I heard was, “We need more, and we need it faster.”

More stingers. More javelins. More air defenses. And more aircraft, like the MiGs Poland has offered to send.

Statements of support are important, but they do nothing to help the Ukrainian forces and civilians who are fighting for their lives. As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, “Ukraine can’t shoot down Russian missiles with shotguns and machine guns.”

One critical way Congress can supply Ukrainian forces with the resources they need, when they need them, is by passing the bipartisan Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, which I

introduced. This legislation would enable the U.S. to supply Ukrainian forces with the necessary resources to not just sustain but ultimately win this fight. This bill would eliminate bureaucratic delays and allow us to answer Ukraine’s call for more aid, faster.

We know war is not won only on the battlefield; diplomacy is also vitally important. The unified global response to this war has not only strengthened Ukraine’s defenses, it has also thrown Russia’s economy into a tailspin.

My colleagues and I had the opportunity to speak with members of the Bundestag, Germany’s federal parliament, and a number

of our partners about the ongoing need for a united EuropeanAmerican front. By standing shoulder to shoulder with our allies, we can impose punishing costs on Russia for its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin can have as many military resources as money can buy, but there’s one invaluable asset he will always lack: friends.

While no American service members are in Ukraine — a status I hope to maintain — many of our soldiers have deployed to Europe to support our NATO allies. I had an opportunity to thank some of the Texans serving at the U.S. Army garrison in Grafenwöhr, Germany. Their presence reaffirms to our allies that America is a reliable partner, and I was honored to express my gratitude to them on behalf of all Texans.

The devastating reality of war is that civilians often bear the most brutal costs. More than 3.8 million Ukrainians have left the country, and an estimated 6.7 million are displaced within its borders. Nongovernmental organizations have partnered with the Polish military to establish a refugee processing center near the Ukrainian-Polish border, and we saw how they are caring for Ukrainians in search of safety.

My colleagues and I also heard from members of the Ukrainian Civil Society, a passionate group of women advocating for the future of their country. Their stories were marked with immense grief and fear, as well as an unwavering resolve to ensure the world does not forget the atrocities committed by Putin.

I will never forget the faces and stories of the brave Ukrainians I met whose lives and homeland have been destroyed by a powerhungry dictator. At one point, a woman lifted up a piece of metal shrapnel that came from a missile that killed innocent children, and her message was clear: Ukraine needs the support of the world to overcome Putin’s war machine.

As the largest and longeststanding democracy in the world, America can help Ukraine do more than continue the fight — we can help them win this war.

Alexei Alexandrov / Associated Press Millions of Ukrainians have been displaced and countless lives lost in the Russian invasion. The U.S. has a responsibility to stand up for freedom and push back against this aggression.