As the ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine collapses, presidential hopeful and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry has his own prescription for combating Russia's support of Ukrainian rebels, and it starts with providing lethal aid to the Ukrainians.
"To show leadership in this crisis, the United States should take the following actions immediately," Perry said in a video statement released Monday by RickPAC.
The Texas Republican is offering a five-prong approach to combat the aggression of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his violation of the truce established on Feb. 12, beginning with providing "lethal aid to the Ukrainians so they can defend themselves."
Story continues below video.
Perry's recommendation echoes a statement made by
Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who said Sunday on CBS that he's ashamed of his country, the president and of himself for not doing more to help the Ukrainians.
"The Ukrainians aren’t asking for American boots on the ground. That’s not the question here. They are asking for weapons to defend themselves," McCain said. "They are being slaughtered and their military is being shattered."
In addition, Perry also recommends "increased sanctions, including reconsidering Russia’s continued access to the SWIFT international banking system."
"Fast track permits for LNG [liquefied natural gas] export facilities on the East Coast to flood the European market with American natural gas," Perry continued.
"Lead the debate in NATO to allow a permanent deployment of U.S. and NATO allies to Poland and the Baltics to protect our allies and assets in the area, including U.S. bomber wings in the Baltic republics and permanent U.S. Army forces in Poland," the Texas Republican said.
Lastly, he said that "we need to conduct port visits by the U.S. Navy in the Baltics."
The Obama administration and European allies are currently considering the next course of action against Moscow after it breached the ceasefire brokered earlier this month.
Options on the table for President Barack Obama to consider, according to Secretary of State John Kerry, include arming Ukrainian forces and deeper sanctions,
Reuters reported.
According to Perry, "President Putin has again demonstrated his insincerity as a negotiating partner and his willingness to use diplomatic engagement as a pretext for expanded military conquest."
The presidential hopeful contends that "administrations of both parties have badly miscalculated the intentions of Vladimir Putin and the Russian state for the last decade and a half.
"The latest developments underscore the urgent need of the United States and EU to deal with the realities of the Russian state under Vladimir Putin," he added.
Perry recommends following the example of former President Ronald Reagan and "lead our allies" under NATO.
"NATO was created to stop Russia, and President [Ronald] Reagan showed that with American leadership, NATO works," he said.
"President Obama always thinks through the consequences of action, but he never considers the consequences of inaction," Perry said.
"The peace and security of the world is at stake and the consequences of inaction are too great to be ignored."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.