Republican Senator Roger Wicker Wicker believes the U.S should not rule out military intervention, including a nuclear strike, when it comes to combatting Russian aggression against Ukraine.
While speaking to Fox News' Neil Cavuto on December 7, he also said sending troops to Ukraine was another option President Joe Biden should keep in his deck.
He said: "We start making a mistake when we take options off the table.
"I would hope the president keeps that option on the table."
Cavuto asked for further clarification on what military action means. Wicker answered the U.S should be considering both more boots on the grounds in Ukraine and a nuclear strike.
He said: "Military action could mean that we standoff with our ships in the black sea and we rain destruction on Russia capability, it could mean that.
"It could mean that we participate, I would not rule that out nor would I rule out American troops on the ground.
"We don't rule out first-use nuclear action, we don't think it will happen but there are certain things in negotiations, if you are going to be tough, that you don't take off the table.
"I think the president should say that everything is on the table. Frankly, to the extent that you had Democrats on the show before me saying we need to be tougher, I support that and appreciate that.
"I think they represent the fear that we have, the realization that we have in Congress. That losing a free democratic Ukraine to Russian invasion would be a gamechanger for a free Europe.
Tension between the U.S and Russia continues to grow to America amid the latter's actions in Europe.
Russia's build-up of military forces along the Ukraine border has caused concern that Putin may be about to invade the country.
A senior Biden official on Monday indicated that the U.S. does not want to have a military conflict with Russia over Ukraine and hopes to deescalate the situation.
The official said: "I would say that the United States is not seeking to end up in a circumstance in which the focus of our countermeasures is the direct use of military force as opposed to a combination of support for the Ukrainian military, strong economic countermeasures and the substantial increase in support and capability to our NATO allies to ensure that they remain safe."
Biden and Putin had a virtual meeting on Tuesday in hopes of peacefully resolving both countries' concerns.
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Gerrard Kaonga is a Newsweek U.S. News Reporter and is based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on U.S. ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
