Included in the latest U.S. military aid package are 800 Stinger missiles, 100 drones, along with ammunition, body armor, and other supplies.
But earlier Wednesday, Sen. Mitch McConnell kept to his oft-repeated accusation that President Joe Biden is providing too little, too late.
"Every step of the way, this self-deterred White House has insisted its hesitation and restraint was aimed at avoiding escalation, but at every step Putin has escalated."U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
But Ambassador Carey Cavanaugh with the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School of Diplomacy told the school’s Patterson Perspectives podcast Tuesday that Biden and NATO can’t afford to give Russian President Vladimir Putin political ammunition in his campaign to sell Russians on the need for the conflict.
As for Biden’s actions so far, Cavanaugh said the president has had to walk a fine line.
"He and his team have found a way to walk on the right side of that fine line and at least to date support the Ukrainians and the fight they're making to try to preserve their country."Ambassador Carey Cavanaugh
Even as Biden called Zelensky’s address “convincing” and “significant,” the U.S. assistance continues to stop short of establishing a no-fly zone over Ukraine — a move critics caution would be viewed as an act of war by Russia and invite a wider conflict.