Yesterday at 19:58
Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly said Sunday that Ukraine’s decision to counter a Russian invasion by attacking Russia itself could change the course of that war.
The Arizona Democrat said that ”130,000 Russians have been displaced, and at this point in this conflict, I think the Ukrainians have done something unpredictable that could really change the course of this conflict.”
At the time of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there were fears that if Ukraine and its allies spread the war into Russian territory, a regional or global conflict could erupt. However, the war largely stalled, at least until Ukrainian troops crossed the Kursk region into Russian territory.
Asked by the host if he was comfortable with American weapons being used on Russian soil now, Kelly said he was fine with it.
“At this point, I’m fine with it. Ukrainians have been illegally attacked by Vladimir Putin. … He deliberately killed women, children, old people. It was an illegal invasion. It’s an invasion, and I just, let’s just, let’s characterize it that way for now. I don’t think the Ukrainians want to intentionally hold Russian territory for an extended period of time, but it really shocked Putin.”
He also added that it is appropriate to continue to study the security needs of the Ukrainians.
Kelly also said Ukraine’s offensive should teach Russians that Vladimir Putin is not the peerless protector he makes himself out to be: “He has always tried to characterize himself as someone who is going to protect Russia. I think his citizens are seeing the results of what he did in Ukraine, and now they are in some danger.”
