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Kentucky lawmakers want a more hawkish response against Russia, as Biden works to strike a delicate balance

President Joe Biden announces a ban on Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia's economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, Tuesday, March 8, 2022, in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Andrew Harnik/AP
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AP
President Joe Biden announces a ban on Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia's economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, Tuesday, March 8, 2022, in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Top level Kentucky lawmakers are calling for faster action from the Biden administration when it comes to bolstering the resistance in Ukraine.

With heartbreaking images flowing out of Ukraine, Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell claims President Biden could be doing more — and more quickly — to aid a nation that’s shown just how hard it’s willing to fight the Russian invaders.

"Imagine where these brave people might be now if the administration moved at the speed of necessity, rather than the snail's pace of bureaucracy."
Kentucky U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell

Just what would that look like? Congressman Andy Barr told CNN said he’d like to see "more critical air assets to be transferred to the Ukrainian resistance and then backfilling that to our NATO allies. We need a more powerful deterrent on the eastern edge of NATO as we help our friends in the Ukraine."

But while pressure mounts for a more aggressive response, the Biden administration is walking a geopolitical tightrope — reminding critics that every step must be weighed carefully to avoid the U.S. becoming a direct participant in the war.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the U.S. is trying to “end this war, not start a larger one.”

Josh James fell in love with college radio at Western Kentucky University's student station, New Rock 92 (now Revolution 91.7). After working as a DJ and program director, he knew he wanted to come home to Lexington and try his hand in public radio.