WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined a Senate resolution urging the Biden Administration to facilitate the transfer of aircraft, such as MiG-29s, and air defense systems to Ukraine. The resolution was introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and cosponsored by Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., Bill Cassidy, R-La., Rick Scott, R-Fla., Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and James Lankford, R-Okla.

“Vladimir Putin is at war with the entire free world, and President Biden has not yet done nearly enough to stop his invasion of Ukraine,” Wicker said. “Our Ukrainian friends have asked for increased airpower and more air defense systems, and our Polish allies have expressed a willingness to help. We need to say less and do more, starting with transferring these vital defensive assets to Ukraine without delay.”

“I'm urging the Senate to speak with one voice, to meet the moment,” said Graham. “We've been talking. We have written letters. Now it’s time to take votes. If we had a vote on the resolution to supply the Ukrainian military with the MiG fighters and other air defense systems, it would be a shot in the arm to Ukrainian people and their military. It would be a blow to Putin. If we do this soon, I think it really could help the outcome of this conflict.”

The resolution cosponsored by Senator Wicker would:

• Encourage the President of the United States to support the transfer of aircraft, such as MiG-29s, and air defense systems to Ukraine.
• Support continued efforts by members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and other countries around the globe to identify additional aviation and air defense capabilities to transfer to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
• Express that the Senate stands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people in their struggle against Russian aggression.

The measure follows a recent trip by Senator Wicker to the Polish-Ukrainian border, where he met with both senior American and Polish defense officials to discuss recent developments in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Wicker also called for increased support, including the transfer of airpower to Ukraine, in a recent floor speech and press conference. 

The resolution text can be found here.