During a recent debate, only Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur and political newcomer, expressed his opposition to continued funding for Ukraine. Ramaswamy has proposed a radical foreign policy approach that has gained criticism from his critics, who argue that it is favorable to Russian President Vladimir Putin. His plan involves ceding territory in eastern Ukraine to Russia in exchange for Moscow’s withdrawal from its military alliance with China, along with ending Ukraine’s candidacy for NATO membership and lifting U.S. sanctions on Russia. While Ramaswamy’s stance has found limited support among fellow Republicans, there is a growing weariness among Americans of financing the war. Even the leading GOP candidates, former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, share skepticism regarding U.S. support for Ukraine.
Justin Logan, the director of defense and foreign policy studies at the conservative think tank Cato Institute, suggests that Ramaswamy is echoing popular themes presented by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who argues that the Ukraine war is pushing Russia closer to China. Logan expects to see erosion in Republican support for funding Ukraine and believes that independents will question whether it is a good use of money. However, he notes that the idea of ceding territory is not as popular as the concept of breaking the Sino-Russian alliance.
Recent polling has shown that Americans are divided on whether to continue providing financial assistance to Ukraine, with some Republicans arguing that tax dollars should be focused on domestic issues. Meena Bose, the chairwoman of presidential studies at Hofstra University, suggests that Ramaswamy’s simplistic foreign policy message resonates with frustrated Americans who are concerned about domestic conditions. However, Bose also acknowledges that his policy platform may face intense scrutiny in the future.
Ramaswamy has already faced criticism from prominent Republicans, such as former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and former Vice President Mike Pence. Haley questioned Ramaswamy’s lack of foreign policy experience and accused him of playing into Putin’s hands by refusing to support Ukraine. Ramaswamy, on the other hand, argues that the U.S. should refocus its military strength on the U.S.-Mexico border instead of protecting Ukraine.
Ramaswamy believes that the top priority should be ending Russia’s military alliance with China, as he views the Sino-Russian partnership as the greatest military risk faced by the U.S. He proposes a deal in which Russia would suspend military cooperation with China, revive a major nuclear pact with the U.S., and withdraw its nuclear weapons from abroad. Ramaswamy believes that this deal would integrate Russia into Europe’s security infrastructure and reduce the likelihood of Russian invasions.
It remains uncertain whether Russia and Ukraine, as well as NATO allies, would accept such a deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated that Ukraine will not cede any territory in a peace agreement. Ramaswamy’s proposal resembles Trump’s claim that he could end the war within 24 hours, although the former president has not provided specific details. Michael Genovese, the president of the Global Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount University, suggests that Trump can afford to be nonspecific due to his status as the de facto leader of the GOP, while Ramaswamy’s specific plan has faced criticism.
DeSantis also faced backlash for describing the Ukraine-Russia conflict as a “territorial dispute.” Although he did not raise his hand to oppose Ukraine on the debate stage, he emphasized that Europe should contribute more to the cost of the conflict. The candidates’ differing views reflect a broader debate within the GOP regarding America’s role in resolving the conflict.
Trump has suggested withholding arms from Ukraine unless it moves towards peace, while President Joe Biden believes that the U.S. should continue arming Ukraine until it successfully resists Russia or agrees to negotiate an end to the war. Partisan divisions among voters are also evident, with a CNN poll showing that 62 percent of Democrats support continued funding for Ukraine compared to 71 percent of Republicans who oppose it.
The future of U.S. assistance to Ukraine is likely to be influenced by developments on the battlefield. Ukraine is currently struggling to achieve a breakthrough in its counteroffensive. Additionally, Congress is preparing for a spending battle that will indicate whether strong support for Ukraine will persist. Ramaswamy faces an uphill battle in the election, as his unfavorability among Republicans increased in a post-debate poll. However, it remains uncertain where primary voters will stand on the Ukraine issue in early 2024. Bose suggests that working with Ukraine to end the war could become part of the Republican Party platform, as there is a widespread desire among Americans to see an end to the conflict.
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