John McCain on Ukraine Conflict: 'I'm Ashamed of my Country'
Arizona Senior Senator John McCain recently said that he is "ashamed of [his] country" and himself for failing to help the Ukrainian people in their current fight against pro Russia separatists.
While speaking on CBS's "Face the Nation," McCain referenced the recent treaty deal between Ukraine and Russian officials which fell apart quickly after pro-Russian separatists pushed Ukrainian troops out of the important transport hub of Debaltseve last week.
"I'm ashamed of my country, I'm ashamed of my president and I'm ashamed of myself that I haven't done more to help these people," McCain said on "Face the Nation."
As CBS reports, McCain has been encouraging President Obama to arm Ukrainian troops with weapons so they may better fend off Russian troops.
"The Ukrainians aren't asking for American boots on the ground; that's not the question here. They're asking for weapons to defend themselves and they are being slaughtered and their military is being shattered," McCain said. "Some of the best Russian special forces are there and they will continue this aggression for as long as they can get away with it [...] [Russian President] Vladimir Putin wants Ukraine not to be part of Europe and he is succeeding in doing so."
After the peace agreement fell apart last week, only one week after being created in Minsk, U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power warned the Russian government to stop arming separatists in the Ukraine.
"Stop arming the separatists. Stop sending hundreds of heavy weapons across the border in addition to your troops. Stop pretending you are not doing what you are doing," Power said in a statement.
"Russia signs agreements then does everything within its power to undermine them. Russia champions the sovereignty of nations and then acts as if a neighbour's borders do not exist," she added.