U.S. funding for Ukraine is now uncertain because Representative Kevin McCarthy is no longer the House speaker, writes Bloomberg. This change might allow some Republicans to delay help for Ukraine. The decision of who becomes the next House speaker is crucial because the Republican party is split on the issue. While many in Congress want to support Ukraine, some possible future leaders, like Jim Jordan, don’t.
This situation has made Ukraine’s friends worried about the U.S.’s commitment. However, President Joe Biden told them the U.S. will keep supporting Ukraine. The Senate wants to help Ukraine, but they don’t have a clear plan, especially with the current issues in the House. Some ideas include adding Ukraine aid to the yearly defense bill or offering a bigger package to help Ukraine for a longer time, maybe until the 2024 elections.
- Kevin McCarthy’s Ouster: The removal of Representative Kevin McCarthy as House speaker has introduced uncertainty regarding the future of U.S. funding for Ukraine.
- Republican Division: The Republican party is divided on the issue of aid to Ukraine. The stance of the next House speaker will play a pivotal role in determining the direction of this funding.
- Widespread Congressional Support: Despite the internal divisions, there is broad support within Congress for providing aid to Ukraine.
- Jim Jordan’s Opposition: Ardent Trump Advocate, Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, a potential candidate for the speaker position, opposes further aid to Ukraine and has voted against it.
- Matt Gaetz’s Role: Representative Matt Gaetz, a significant Republican figure who was instrumental in McCarthy’s ouster, highlighted that a majority of House Republicans voted against the recent aid bill for Ukraine.
- Concerns Among Allies: The political turmoil within the U.S. has raised concerns among Ukraine’s allies about the stability of American support.
- Biden’s Reassurance: President Joe Biden communicated with allies to reassure them of the U.S.’s continued support for Ukraine.
- Senate’s Dilemma: Senators are eager to provide aid to Ukraine, but they lack a unified approach, especially with the disruptions in the House.
- Tying Aid to Other Issues: There’s a proposal to link Ukraine aid to the U.S. border security issue. Some Republicans want changes in policy, not just increased spending.
- Senate Supplemental Approach: Some Democrats in the Senate want to quickly approve aid by building upon the $300 million package the House recently passed. However, there are concerns about prioritizing Ukraine’s border over the U.S. one.
- Defense Spending Bill Proposal: Senator Susan Collins suggests attaching the Ukraine aid package to the annual defense spending bill. This approach could, however, face delays due to negotiations between the House and Senate.
- Long-Term Aid Proposal: Some, including Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, propose a more extensive aid package for Ukraine that would last a year or more, potentially up to the 2024 elections, to ensure sustained support.