Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) did not hold back on Thursday over his opposition to giving Ukraine billions more taxpayer dollars.
On Wednesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) criticized anyone reluctant to approve giving Ukraine more money. He suggested critics cannot complain unless they’ve been to Ukraine to see the war themselves. The sharp comments came as Congress debates President Joe Biden’s request to send $24 billion more to Ukraine.
Responding to Graham on Fox Business, Paul said the U.S. cannot afford to give Ukraine more money without going further into debt, which is financially irresponsible — especially with a possible government shutdown looming over Washington.
“I am sympathetic to Ukraine fighting off the Russian aggressors, but at the same time I think it’s irresponsible to think about their country before I think about my country,” Paul said.
Biden’s ‘irresponsible’ Ukraine funding likely to cause US recession: GOP sen.www.youtube.com
The Kentucky senator explained that the U.S. has already given Ukraine more than $100 billion. And even if Congress authorized Biden’s request for more, Ukraine will come back in a few months “begging for more,” Paul predicted.
Moreover, Paul suggested it is immoral to ask American taxpayers to fund Ukraine, which has a “bloated” government full of “corruption.”
“They’ve canceled the elections. What kind of democracy has no election? So next year, [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky said he’s not going to have an election because it would be inconvenient during the war and it would be expensive. Well, the thing is, if you don’t have elections, why in the world are we supporting a country that’s not a democracy?” Paul said.
“They’ve banned political parties, they’ve invaded churches, they’ve arrested priests. So no, it isn’t a democracy, it’s a corrupt regime,” he explained.
Paul said Russia is “worse,” but the America people shouldn’t be forced to choose sides — especially when “we don’t have the money.”
On Wednesday, Paul drew a line in the sand when he committed not to vote for any government spending package that gives more American taxpayer dollars to Ukraine.
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