U.S. troops will be on the front lines against Russia without further Ukraine aid, Senator Coons says

• The U.S. faces the prospect of direct combat with Russia if it fails to provide continued support for Ukraine, U.S. Democratic Senator Chris Coons said Friday.
• Speaking to CNBC at the Munich Security Conference, Coons said that investment in Europe was the U.S.'s best defense against Moscow.
• "In the next front against Russia, it will be Americans on the front lines. We are best off investing in Ukrainians," Coons said.

MUNICH, Germany — The U.S. faces the prospect of direct combat with Russia if it fails to provide continued financial and military support for forces on the ground in Ukraine, U.S. Democratic Senator Chris Coons said Friday.

Calling for bipartisan support from the U.S. House of Representatives for a new $95 billion aid package which includes funds for Ukraine, Coons said that investment in Europe was the U.S.'s best defense against Moscow.

"In the next front against Russia, it will be Americans on the front lines," Coons told CNBC's Silvia Amaro at the Munich Security Conference.

"We are best off investing in the Ukrainians who are fighting bravely for their own freedom than allowing [Russian President Vladimir] Putin the opportunity to spread further chaos and violence across Europe."

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved the new funding package, but it faces tough opposition from House lawmakers. Both houses of Congress need to approve the legislation before U.S. President Joe Biden can sign it into law.

Coons said he was "optimistic" the bill would be approved, albeit with "some back and forth." Without doing so, Coons said that Putin was likely to target a NATO ally next.

"If we don't stop Putin in Ukraine, he will next be attacking NATO allies of the United States," he said.

Asked whether he agreed with