Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) criticized President Biden for giving Russian President Vladimir Putin a signal when the U.S. withdrew its troops from Afghanistan.
McConnell appeared on Fox News’s “America’s Newsroom” on Wednesday following the Senate's approval of aid to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia after a long delay. He argued that one of Biden’s biggest errors was the withdrawal, because of what it communicated on the international stage.
“We kept the lid on terrorism there. We shouldn’t have withdrawn the troops,” he said. “When we did, that was like sending a green light to Putin, who was already thinking seriously about moving his troops up against the border.”
McConnell’s position on the withdrawal has stayed the same since 2021. Almost three years ago, he called Biden’s plan to remove troops from Afghanistan “one of the worst foreign policy decisions in American history.”
Following the withdrawal, Russia has invaded Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed to a divided Congress for more assistance. The approved package will provide $61 billion to Ukraine for its war.
The package has caused a deep split within the Republican Party, after a bipartisan bill failed in the House due to not focusing enough on the U.S.-Mexico border. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has faced pressure from conservative members who wanted more action.
McConnell criticized the Biden administration and said they didn’t give Ukraine enough weapons quickly.
“We tended to react too slowly. So, the administration did make a number of mistakes,” he said.
“But at least at this point, after a long delay, we’ve all come together and done what is needed to be done to help the Ukrainians,” McConnell said. “And you know, this is a huge issue to the whole world.”
