Will Republican leaders in the US cut off aid to Ukraine?
What happens in the United States midterm elections might lead to more confrontational policies toward China and cause divisions in the international community’s solidarity in support of Ukraine.
A resolution to audit U.S. government spending on Ukraine was introduced by Republican Congress members Marjorie Taylor Greene (speaking), Matt Gaetz, and Thomas Massie on November 17, 2022.
It was expected that President Joe Biden’s Democratic Party, which was running for office at the time, would suffer significant losses in the upcoming 2022 midterm elections. Vote totals revealed stark ideological differences.
They cared about inflation and petrol prices, but they cared far more about not losing control over their own bodies, a value shared by almost all Americans. This means the Democrats have a chance to take the lead in the Senate by a single vote.
Republicans have gained a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, which might restrict Vice President Biden’s legislative agenda in the remaining months of his term. There will be far-reaching effects on both domestic policy and global relations if the government is fractured, with implications felt everywhere from Kiev to Beijing and beyond. All of humanity must take note of this unfolding crisis.
Change in Ukraine?
The United States Congress has approved a total of $68 billion in aid for Kyiv since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine started in February of last year. The Joe Biden administration just requested an extra $37 billion. Members of both parties have been the primary advocates for this kind of financial aid.
In May, the largest allocation of its type was authorized with bipartisan support and just 57 votes against it in the House of Representatives; all of the no votes came from Republicans.
The Republican Party, on the other hand, is very much split about the appropriate way to deliver financial and military aid to Ukraine, as shown by the midterm elections. Republican senator-elect from Ohio and ardent supporter of former president Donald Trump JD Vance has said that Congress “had to block the money flow to Ukraine sometime.”
Reelected far-right conspiracy theorist Republican Congresswoman from Georgia, Marjorie Taylor Greene, said at a campaign rally that “under Republicans, not another cent will go to Ukraine.” Since the election, she’s introduced a bill in Congress to look into the money the US gives to Ukraine.
Kevin McCarthy, the current House Minority Leader and a candidate for Speaker, said in October that if the Republicans took control of the House, Ukraine would no longer get a “blank check.” McCarthy’s remark might be seen as a veiled admission that he is meeting opposition from more pro-Trump members of his party on the issue of Ukraine finance. McCarthy’s comments may be read in several ways, making room for this understanding.
Even if they now make up a minority within the Republican House caucus, their proximity to the outgoing president, who is running for re-election and is well-loved within the Republican Party, might make it difficult for the caucus to ignore them.
Although it is highly unlikely that the Republican Party would then follow Greene’s suggestion to stop supporting Ukraine, it is possible that the leadership of the party will attempt to intensify scrutiny of appropriations related to Ukraine, and may even try to impose some limits on the amount of money that can be spent.