Derek Chollet, President Biden's nominee for undersecretary of defense for policy, expressed his unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Chollet stated, "I will move heaven and earth to get the Ukrainians what they need when they need it," emphasizing the importance of providing necessary assistance to the country. Politico's Lara Seligman reported on Chollet's remarks during the hearing.
Chollet further highlighted the potential devastating consequences if the United States were to halt its significant support to Ukraine. He emphasized that such a move would not only negatively impact Ukraine, which has effectively utilized the assistance provided, but also the impressive alliance that has been formed over the past 20 months.
"The impact if the U.S. were to stop providing significant support to Ukraine would be devastating," Chollet conveyed to Democratic Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, the committee's chairman, according to Politico. He concluded by stating, "I think it is absolutely vital that we maintain our robust assistance to Ukraine."
The Senate recently passed a continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown by providing over $6 billion in new funds for Ukraine. This additional funding adds to the more than $100 billion in aid that Ukraine has received from the United States to date.
During the hearing, Republican Missouri Sen. Roger Wicker raised concerns about Chollet's previous statements regarding the situation on the southern border and his characterization of the U.S. military as "infected by systemic racism."
President Biden nominated Chollet for the position in July, selecting him to succeed the departing incumbent Colin Kohl. Chollet brings extensive experience to the role, having served as a senior policy advisor to Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the U.S. State Department and as assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs in the Pentagon.
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