McConnell says the U.S. strategy to avoid escalation in Ukraine isn't working, but a UK ambassador points to a 'fine line'

WUKY | By Josh James

Published March 16, 2022 at 4:56 PM EDT

Members of Congress give Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky a standing ovation before he speaks in a virtual address to Congress in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center Congressional Auditorium in Washington, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. (Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

Following an impassioned call for more aid from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to members of Congress, the Biden administration has unveiled another $800 in security assistance. But Kentucky’s top Republican maintains a bolder response is necessary to deter Russia.

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.