Congress dealt a blow to Ukraine on Saturday by blocking new aid in the government spending deal. This decision, despite the lobbying efforts of senior Biden officials and the highest-ranking GOP senator, has geopolitical implications. The White House had requested $20.6 billion in aid to help Ukraine fight against Russia’s invasion. However, Speaker Kevin McCarthy stripped all funds for Ukraine from the spending bill under pressure from a GOP caucus increasingly critical of Biden’s handling of the war. The Senate had previously advanced a bipartisan bill to provide roughly $6 billion to Ukraine, but Democrats approved the House version to avoid a government shutdown.
The rejection of aid for Ukraine, just days after President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded with lawmakers for support, showcases the GOP’s hardening opposition to helping Ukraine. This decision will have immediate repercussions in European capitals and Kyiv. Top US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd T. Austin, made efforts to build support among Republicans, but House conservatives, emboldened by former President Donald Trump, resisted. Despite this defeat, supporters of Ukraine in Congress and the White House remain determined to secure additional funding. They highlight that the stopgap spending bill approved on Saturday only covers the government until mid-November, providing another opportunity to push for aid for Ukraine.
The failure to secure aid on Saturday could have consequences for the war effort, emboldening Russian President Vladimir Putin, giving European allies an excuse to reduce their own commitments, and widening Ukraine’s budget deficit. GOP support for Ukraine’s defense has been diminishing with each House vote, and it is unlikely that McCarthy will face less resistance if he attempts to rally his conference again. The Senate Republicans, who previously supported $6 billion in aid, retreated, leaving Ukraine’s biggest champions with limited options.
Democratic lawmakers expressed their frustration with the outcome, particularly because Senate Republicans had supported aid for Ukraine. Senators Mark R. Warner and Michael F. Bennet raised concerns about the US abandoning Ukraine at this critical moment. McCarthy’s decision to move a bill without Ukraine funding caught many by surprise, and last-minute lobbying attempts by the State and Defense departments were unsuccessful. Blinken warned McConnell that excluding funding for Ukraine would have catastrophic consequences.
Despite having already received significant aid from the US, Ukraine will now have to explore alternative solutions without additional funding. The lack of support raises doubts about the future of US support for Ukraine. This outcome is concerning for both Ukraine and the global community.
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