Louisiana Senator John Kennedy on Ukraine, re-election campaign, Supreme Court nominee

Louisiana Republican U.S. Sen. John Kennedy said America and NATO can't impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine without risking a world war, but virtually every strategy outside of direct engagement with Russian troops should be used to save Ukraine.

"We're not going to do a no-fly zone," Kennedy said in an interview with USA Today Network Monday after speaking at a combined West Monroe and Monroe chambers of commerce event. "The risk is too great."

Kennedy and other senators spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a conference call Sunday on the 12th day of Russia's invasion.

"I know the American people are tired of foreign entanglements, but we have to meet this threat," Kennedy said. "I'm in awe of President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people. They have united the world."

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But Kennedy said he's convinced Russia, China and Iran are united in support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"Russia and China and Iran are working together to dominate (their regions of the world)," Kennedy said. "Their objective is to see how far they can push Biden and the U.S., and if they can push us far enough they won't stop at Ukraine."

Kennedy said current sanctions imposed by the U.S. and other countries have badly damaged the Russian economy, but he said the the only way to completely cripple Russia's ability to continue to fund its war against Ukraine is to wean Europe from Russia's oil and natural gas.

He said to do that the U.S., Canada and others must put together a coalition and "open up the spigots" to replace the oil and gas Europe buys from Russia.

"We won't beat Russia on this until we attack its oil and gas," Kennedy said.

Kennedy said President Biden must reverse policies limiting oil and gas production here, saying the Biden administration "hates oil and gas."

Kennedy's re-election campaign

Kennedy says he he hasn't met either one of the two most prominent Democratic candidates challenging him in next fall's election, but he knows both of them through traditional media and social media.

Gary Chambers, a Black community activist and progressive, has elevated his profile through two provocative adds — one in which he smokes marijuana and advocates for its legalization and a second in which he burns the Confederate flag.

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Luke Mixon, a retired U.S. Navy pilot, has fashioned himself in the image of moderate Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards.

"Competition makes all of us better," Kennedy said. "I'll talk about my record and what Republicans will do if we take back Congress.

"Most independent swing voters, the ones who decide elections, don't think Republicans are perfect, but they think the other side is crazy," he said.

Experts rate Kennedy's seat as safe. The incumbent has more than $11 million on hand to fuel his campaign.

Will Kennedy vote for President Biden's Supreme Court nominee?

Kennedy, a member of the Judiciary Committee with a front row seat on Supreme Court nominations, said he will meet Wednesday with Biden nominee U.S. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court in advance of the committee hearings.

If Jackson is confirmed by the U.S. Senate she will be the first Black woman to serve on the nation's highest court.

"I began preparing for the hearing (Sunday)," Kennedy said. "I've said the same thing for all of the nominees since I've been here. I want justices to tell us what the law is and not what it should be.

"I look forward to meeting with Judge Jackson and learning more about her," Kennedy said without tipping his hand on how he'll vote.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.