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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Sen. Mike Lee is one of several prominent Republicans throwing cold water on the notion of admitting Ukraine into NATO after one of his Senate colleagues called for passing a resolution to support adding Ukraine to the treaty.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Friday said he is working with senators on both sides of the aisle to pass a "resolution urging the admission of Ukraine into NATO."
"The best way to prevent future wars and promote peace is to create security guarantees that make aggressor nations think twice before starting wars," he tweeted. "Ukrainian NATO membership is vital to the future security of Europe and the world. I believe there is an overwhelming majority of Senators supporting this proposition."
"Adding Ukraine to NATO = insuring a house on fire," Lee tweeted from his personal account Saturday, adding that the "military-industrial complex wants Ukraine in NATO immediately," in a separate tweet, along with a GIF of $100 bills.
The military-industrial complex wants Ukraine in NATO immediately. pic.twitter.com/ceOg9S1Zj4
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) July 9, 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been drumming up support for admitting the nation into the treaty ever since Russia invaded early last year, but prospects for joining while the war is ongoing remain unlikely.
While the U.S. has supported Ukraine with weapons and intelligence, it has stopped well short of engaging in direct conflict with Russia. Under NATO, member countries practice collective defense, meaning "that if one NATO ally is attacked, then all NATO allies are attacked," according to its website.
"So your literal plan is to add Ukraine to NATO so we can go from fighting a proxy war to a direct war with Russia, sending American kids to die on the other side of the world for... what exactly???" Donald Trump Jr. said in a tweet reposted by Lee.
Zelenskyy has rallied support for admitting Ukraine, but several NATO members have only pledged to back the move once the war with Russia is over, likely to avoid a dramatic escalation with Russia, according to Reuters.
President Joe Biden told CNN on Sunday the war between Russia and Ukraine must end before NATO can consider adding Ukraine, reaffirming his commitment to defend "every inch" of NATO territory. He also said Ukraine still needs to meet other qualifications, including strengthening its democracy, before it can be considered.
Graham's effort to pass a resolution drew condemnation from several congressional Republicans and one GOP presidential hopeful.
"@JoeBiden needs to man up to his bully-friend Zelensky & clearly state that we are dead-set opposed to Ukrainian admission to NATO," tweeted Vivek Ramaswamy. "This should be a hard red line. It's shameful that even Republicans like @LindseyGrahamSC are now pushing for it. Stop marching us to the brink of nuclear war."
