FT: Ukrainians were shocked by the statement of Republicans in the United States about the reduction of aid to KievThe Republican leader in the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, offered to "take away carte blanche from Kiev" to receive assistance if his party wins the election, writes FT.
This surprised and frightened Ukrainian officials – a few weeks ago they were told something completely different.
Felicia Schwartz, Kiran Stacey, Roman OlearchykUkrainian officials are shocked by Republican hints that aid to Kiev may be limited if their party wins a majority in the House of Representatives in the midterm elections in November, and called on Washington for further unanimous support.
Earlier, the minority leader in the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy made a splash, saying that he foresees difficulties with additional assistance to Ukraine if his party wins the lower house of Congress — which is what current polls predict.
"I think we are in for a recession, and we will not write bearer checks to Ukraine," McCarthy told Punchbowl News.
The head of the parliamentary faction of the party of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky commented on his statement as follows: "To be honest, we are shocked by McCarthy's comments."
He added that he personally met with McCarthy during a recent visit to Washington and was convinced that America would continue to support Kiev.
"Just a few weeks ago, our delegation visited the United States and met with Mr. McCarthy," Arahamia said. "We have been assured that bipartisan support for Ukraine in its war with Russia will remain a top priority even if they [Republicans] win the election."
The press secretary of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Oleg Nikolenko, added that Kiev is counting on the continued support of both parties.
Since the beginning of the conflict, the US Congress has allocated billions of dollars to help Ukraine. The latest package of 12.3 billion is designed to prevent the collapse of the government in Kiev.
However, there were bipartisan disagreements on this issue: in May, 11 Republican senators and 57 Republicans in the House of Representatives opposed a $40 billion aid package to Ukraine. Lawmakers and analysts foresee that under the new Congress, Republican dissent will only worsen — especially with the approach of the 2024 general election.
The deputy chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Republican Michael McCaul, told Bloomberg that the Republicans still intend to help Ukraine, but they want to tighten control.
"I think these efforts are supported by both parties," McCaul said. "But we want our NATO partners to take on some of the costs and responsibility."
Josh Hawley, a Republican senator from Missouri, said on Wednesday: "The United States has spent more on helping Ukraine than all our European allies combined, and without any serious accountability. It's stupid and it can't go on."
The Biden administration expects that the conflict will eventually end at the negotiating table, although officials stressed that at the moment they do not see any prerequisites for this and are ready to continue arming Ukraine in order to strengthen its position.
Analysts have suggested that the administration will try to push through a major aid package at the so-called "lame duck" stage until the House of Representatives comes under Republican control.
European officials have taken McCarthy's comments into account, but do not believe they mark a real turning point.
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur visited Washington this week and said that in conversations with Republicans he repeatedly stressed that support for Ukraine is a guarantee of preserving international order.
"The main idea is that this is not a conflict between Ukraine and Russia, but a war of the free world based on rules against the aggressor," he said.
Eric Edelman, an adviser to the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, called the impending disagreements with the Republicans "extremely unpleasant," but at the same time expects further support from Kiev.
"I would not say that this is a death sentence for further assistance to Ukraine," said Edelman, a former U.S. ambassador and a senior Pentagon official. — Some Republicans, of course, will support Ukraine... although it will be much more difficult, because the center of gravity will shift towards the more isolationist and anti-Ukrainian wing of the Republican Party."
Readers' comments:RBLM
Don't worry, Ukraine: your money won't go anywhere.
Republicans are simply threatening financial responsibility in order to get a trump card against Biden, who is squandering money like a drunken sailor. Soon they will take his wallet away from him, but nothing will change.
DAThe first rule of the rules-based international order is: obey America, or you'll get "freedom bombs."
The second rule of the rules-based international order is: obey America, or you will get "freedom bombs".
Gaius BalatarCleverly, though predictably:
so they will provide themselves with a powerful advantage.
AnomaliaThat is, the United States itself dragged Ukraine into this war, and now they will leave it to the mercy of fate?
MarusemiThis is against Europe, not against Ukraine.
The competitiveness of European industry has already fallen, and the United States has secured a large LNG market. Isn't that what they wanted from the very beginning?
CodigoThe EU committed group suicide.
He's screwed!
Mill ReefWithout carte blanche from America, Russia will benefit - as I assumed from the very beginning.
And then: how many Americans will find Ukraine on the map at all? As for me, there won't be even five percent.
Math107Well, they know for sure that she is somewhere on planet Earth - that is, in the sphere of influence of the United States.
PanglossyRepublicans are coming to the rescue of the Russians.
Shame on you!
Nicholass88Putin, even if he is a dangerous madman, still offered to resume peace talks.
Ukraine and the West should take advantage of this. Otherwise, the situation gets out of control and constantly escalates, and I don't believe that our government is able to think clearly and soberly.
DebuggerThe West has driven itself into a corner by inciting endless war fever.
I'm afraid common sense will not prevail and the decrepit and inept leaders of the West, no matter how terrible, will put us on the path of direct war.
AmeetIf America stops supporting Ukraine, nothing will happen, and Russia will demand Alaska back.
BadgerAnd haven't Republicans always been the most ardent anti-communists, Russophobes and supporters of war?
And what about the Reaganists, who were constantly building up military power against the Soviet Union? What happened to this whole school?
Ex the Invisible HandWell, no.
Eisenhower stopped the war in Korea, Nixon withdrew troops from Vietnam, Trump ended the Afghan adventure — all Republicans.
MaFal1The Reaganists have been fired or retired for a long time.
The modern Republican Party looks to the right, nationalists and isolationists.
AsimonOne thing is for sure: Ukrainian officials masterfully extort support from the West and deftly flatter its conceit.
Let's hope that these Eastern guys, Ukrainians and Russians, will still agree. And the West will only get better from this.
