Unconditional US support for Ukraine has not been evident since the election

• Dick Johnson

  Teacher abroad

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the United States has invested more money in Ukraine than anyone else. This includes $40 billion in humanitarian, financial and military assistance; More than pledges from the European Union (14 billion), the United Kingdom (5 billion) and other major donor countries such as Germany, Canada and Poland.

US military support has translated into successful counteroffensives in eastern and southern Ukraine. Until now, Democratic President Biden has been able to count on the support of his own Democrats and most Republicans in Congress. Despite former President Trump and his most outspoken loyalists in Congress, they continue to question America’s response to Putin’s aggression. pull.

A large majority still favors US aid to Ukraine. A recent poll shows that 72 percent of Americans think so, including 68 percent Republicans.

But on that day Middle Ages — Nov. 8 midterm elections to decide who holds power in both houses of Congress — growing concerns about massive U.S. support for Ukraine. Not least because half of the current Republican candidates for Congress are outspoken supporters of Trump. If they get more seats on November 8, their vote will be stronger.

Because Republicans now have a serious chance of winning both the House of Representatives and the US Senate. Senate. In the House, a Republican majority through the budget legislation would have more influence over the amount and use of aid and could block more generous support programs.

In anticipation of that, incumbent House Speaker Kevin McCarthy dropped the baton earlier this month. chicken coop He questioned whether Ukraine should also be given ‘blank cheques’ in the future. McCarthy was immediately criticized by Republican Senate President Mitch McConnell, but the debate over unconditional support in the party certainly remains and is more pressing than it was at the start of the war.

Incidentally, that debate is also on the Democratic left. After the necessary pressure from the White House, thirty ostensibly progressive Democratic members of Congress withdrew a letter in which they called on Biden to advocate primarily for Ukraine-to-Ukraine talks. Russia.

If the Republicans get a chance to win a majority in Congress, it will certainly make European leaders think. To date, no European government leaders have openly questioned whether the US billions in support for Ukraine and the defense of NATO member states’ eastern borders will make things more uncertain after the US elections.

But there is much speculation in think tanks about the chances of the transparency of that support diminishing and what the European response will be. Especially in the longer term, an expected economic slowdown coupled with higher energy prices in Europe is prompting politicians to question further war aid in favor of new ones. Negotiations With Russia.

Dutch former NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer closer Not so anymore Middle Ages May be decisive for the further course of the war in Ukraine.

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