Graham: Putin doesn’t respect Obama’s ‘empty rhetoric’

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t respect President Obama.

“President Obama condemning Russia without arming Ukraine is just empty rhetoric,” Graham said on Wednesday. “Putin doesn’t fear or respect President Obama’s words. He would respect a well-trained, well-armed Ukrainian army fighting for their freedom.”

{mosads}Graham’s comments came after Obama delivered a speech to the United Nations. Obama said the United States stands with Ukraine and that other larger nations should as well.

“We believe that right makes might — that bigger nations should not be able to bully smaller ones, and that people should be able to choose their own future,” Obama said on Wednesday.

The Obama administration has issued sanctions against Russia and provided Ukraine with non-lethal military aid such as night vision goggles, blankets and medical kits, but when Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko visited Congress last week, he said he could not win a war with blankets.

Earlier this year, Russia annexed Crimea and has supported pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine. The two countries have negotiated a ceasefire, but Poroshenko said the conflict wouldn’t end until Russia returns Crimea to Ukraine.