KYIV (Reuters – On Monday, a bipartisan group made promises of weapons and solidarity to US senators while visiting Kyiv. They also warned Vladimir Putin not to launch a military attack against Ukraine.

After Russia deployed tens to thousands of troops close to Ukraine’s border, Kyiv and its Western allies raised the alarm and asked the United States for security assurances. This included a ban on Ukraine joining NATO.

Russia claims it is not planning to launch a military offensive.

In the standoff between Ukraine and Moscow following Russia’s annexation in Crimea (2014), as well as the outbreak war in Ukraine in April 2014, the United States is Ukraine’s largest backer.

Reporters were told by Senator Richard Blumenthal that Vladimir Putin made the greatest mistake in his career when he underestimated the courage of the Ukrainian people to fight him.

After meeting President Volodymyr Zilenskiy, he stated that “we will impose crippling financial sanctions but, more importantly, we will provide the Ukrainian people with the arms, deadly arms they require to protect their lives, livelihoods.”

He said that these weapons might include Stinger missiles and Javelin antitank missiles.

Senator Amy Klobuchar stated, “So our message is that he will face consequences if his actions violate the dignity of democracy.”