Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Inhofe
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today outlined what he hopes to learn from Department of Defense officials at tomorrow’s classified briefing on Russia’s potential invasion of Ukraine.
“We have known about Russia’s latest destabilizing military buildup on Ukraine’s borders since October, and I’ve long been frustrated by the administration’s slow response to these events. If we had acted more swiftly, we could have deterred further aggression.
“As we watch this buildup grow and the threat worsens, we need to understand what Russia might do next, how the Ukrainians are likely to fare in these scenarios and what this means for U.S. and European security more broadly. In turn, how does this shape our own response — what recommendations are Department of Defense officials making to the commander-in-chief to deter further Russian aggression and how are they being received?
“In the meantime, the administration can and must do more to support Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and to bolster NATO’s eastern flank. This includes using both the diplomatic and military tools we have at our disposal to project ‘peace through strength.’”