Sen. Chris Coons is among those attending the Munich Security Conference in Germany. NPR’s Camila Domonoske speaks to him about what’s taking place at the annual security summit.
CAMILA DOMONOSKE, HOST:
World leaders and defense ministers are gathering in Germany for the Munich Security Conference. The high-profile summit is a chance to discuss pressing global security issues. And this year, the war in Ukraine and the United States’ relationship to it are top issues. That’s because support for Ukraine has become a point of tension in Congress, as many Republicans oppose sending more aid. U.S. Senator Chris Coons is a Democrat representing Delaware. He’s a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is attending the conference with a bipartisan group of lawmakers. Senator, welcome to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.
CHRIS COONS: Thanks. Great being on with you, Camila.
DOMONOSKE: So this summit is happening amid this debate over Ukraine aid in Congress, and just days after former President Trump made comments that suggest he might not support NATO allies if elected again. What kinds of pointed questions are you getting from U.S. allies there?
COONS: Virtually every meeting that we’ve had here, the question of whether or not the Congress of the United States will pass robust funding to sustain Ukraine’s brave fight against Russian aggression has been front and center. One of the key things that’s happened here in Europe, just before the Senate passed the supplemental funding bill, was that the European Union approved a $50 billion, four-year support package for Ukraine. We met earlier today with President Zelenskyy, who made it blindingly clear that Ukrainian troops who continue to fight on the frontline against Russian aggression are now having to ration their artillery, are beginning to lose ground and are eagerly awaiting the next resupply of American arms and financial support.
DOMONOSKE: And what’s your answer to…
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