Fox News star Sean Hannity is floating a radical idea that seemed unthinkable just a week ago: NATO should directly strike the 40-mile long Russian military convoy that has invaded north Ukraine.
The Pentagon reports that the Russian convoy has stalled since Monday, making little progress. Fierce Ukrainian resistance and major supply issues have caused thousands of Russian military units to grind to a halt.
“The main body of the large Russian column advancing on Kyiv remains over 30 km from the center of the city, having been delayed by staunch Ukrainian resistance, mechanical breakdown and congestion. The column has made little discernible progress in over three days,” the United Kingdom Defense Ministry said in a statement.
A viral video from near the convoy reportedly a unit of Russian soldiers complaining that they’ve been abandoned without food or shelter for days. According to Newsweek, the soldiers complain that they’ve been used as cannon fodder.
A video apparently showing a large group of Russian soldiers deserting in Ukraine. They say they have not eaten for 3-4 days and that their commanders have not organized their documents. https://t.co/KWKsIAm81c
— Neil Hauer (@NeilPHauer) March 3, 2022
The massive stalled convoy is an extremely enticing target for the remaining Ukrainian air force, which said it conducted airstrikes overnight using Su-24 and Su-25 fighter-bomber planes, artillery strikes, and missile attacks.
The United States and its allies have committed to sending lethal aid to the embattled Ukrainian military that is resisting the bloody Russian advance, but public opinion in the U.S. shows Americans strongly oppose direct military actions — something that could trigger global thermonuclear war with Russia.
But Hannity warned that when the convoy finally does arrive at Kyiv, the carnage inside Ukraine will escalate to another level — and then made a shocking suggestion that NATO forces could become directly involved in the fighting.
“As of this morning, this 40-mile convoy of Russian troops and Russian tanks and munitions and fuel, they’re only 18 miles outside of Kyiv,” Hannity said Wednesday. “And let me tell you, when I look at that I think, ‘Uh oh. This is about to go to the next level.’ And I pray to God Almighty that I’m wrong.”
“The next level would be a massacre. And the next level will be the toppling of the government of Kyiv. The next level will mean thousands upon thousands — likely tens of thousands of people — dead. And that might be on the low side,” he said. “That’s what I fear the most now.”
“Now, you would think these European countries could get together and arm the Ukrainians that show they’re willing to fight,” Hannity said.
That’s when Hannity — a strong advocate of former President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy and nonintervention — suggested the United States and our allies could potentially strike the convoy with drones or missiles.
“If we can see on satellite imagery where the convoy is… I don’t know, maybe some smart country — maybe NATO takes some of their fighter jets or maybe use some drone strikes and take out the whole damn convoy,” he told listeners. “And then nobody takes credit for it, so then Putin doesn’t know who to hit back.”
Hannity said he wasn’t talking about direct conflict — only secret, strategic strikes that give NATO plausible deniability.
“I’m not talking about nuclear war, nor would I support one American boot on the ground,” he said, but he did encourage a stronger response from the United States.
“But at one point, when is this gonna end? Nobody did anything about Georgia was taken in ’08. Nobody cared about Crimea being annexed in 2014,” Hannity claimed.
Listen for yourself —
Fox News’ Sean Hannity suggests NATO should launch a strike on the 40-mile-long Russian convoy headed towards Kyiv.
He says members state should deny it so Putin wouldn’t know who to retaliate against.pic.twitter.com/sjMuJIhE3P
— Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) March 2, 2022