Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) criticized colleagues in both parties for wanting to continue funding and supplying weapons to Ukraine under the guise of “defending democracy,” especially after the country has recently canceled elections.
“Somebody needs to remind the senator that we don’t have any money, we are about $1.5 trillion dollars in debt for this year, over the last three months, we’ve accumulated almost a trillion dollars in three months, the total is $33 trillion,” Paul told Fox Business Network host Maria Bartiromo Thursday morning, in a reference to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who is calling for additional funding.
“So we don’t have an extra rainy day fund we can send them. We have to borrow money from China to send to the Ukraine,” he added.
“So no matter your sympathies in the war, and I am sympathetic to Ukraine fighting Russian aggressors, I think it is irresponsible to think about their country before I think about my country. We have a government funding that needs to happen before September 30. For them to hold that hostage and say we are going to close down government unless you pass Ukrainian funding — we don’t have the money,” Paul continued.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for our country to be borrowing. We’ve given them, I think, over $113 billion, and they’re asking for another $24 billion. But if you read between the lines, they’ll tell you it will last about two to three months, and then they’ll be back again. Every two to three months they’re over here, you know, he’ll be here again today begging for more money,” he added, a reference to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenesky.
Paul went on to say that American taxpayers aren’t just funding weapons, they are also footing the bill to fund Ukrainian government pensions and corruption.
“They have canceled the elections. What kind of democracy has no election? So next year, Zelensky said he is not going to have an election because it would be inconvenient and expensive during the war. Well the thing is, if you don’t have elections, why will the world be supporting a country that is not a democracy?” he asked.
“They have banned political parties, they’ve invaded churches, they’ve arrested priests, so no, it isn’t a democracy. It’s a corrupt regime. Are the Russians better? No, the Russians are worse. At the same time, we don’t always have to pick some side to be on,” the Kentucky Republican added.
