U.S. election results could affect Ukraine assistance - The Columbian

WASHINGTON — If Republicans triumph the House, wherever does that permission Ukraine?

It’s a question that is apical of caput successful Washington arsenic the GOP draws person to winning a bulk successful the U.S. House. Some fearfulness the extremity of Democratic power successful Congress — and the empowerment of “America First” conservatives — could yet effect successful the curtailment of American assistance arsenic Ukraine battles Russia’s invasion.

Recent comments from Kevin McCarthy, who is successful enactment for talker if Republicans triumph the House, exacerbated those fears. He warned that Republicans wouldn’t enactment penning a “blank check” for Ukraine if they captured the majority.

But enactment for the state runs heavy successful some parties.

Since the Russian penetration began successful February, Congress has approved tens of billions of dollars successful exigency information and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine. The Biden medication has besides shipped billions of dollars’ worthy of weapons and instrumentality from subject inventories.

In September, lawmakers approved astir $12.3 cardinal successful Ukraine-related assistance arsenic portion of a measure that finances the national authorities done Dec. 16. The wealth included assistance for the Ukrainian subject arsenic good arsenic wealth to assistance the country’s authorities supply basal services to its citizens.

That comes connected apical of much than $50 cardinal provided successful 2 erstwhile bills.

All along, fiscal assistance to Ukraine has garnered beardown bipartisan support. In the Senate, GOP person Mitch McConnell and Richard Shelby, the pb Republican connected the almighty Appropriations Committee, were aboriginal and accordant voices successful favour of helping Ukraine.

In caller days, different Republicans — including Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Rick Scott of Florida — person insisted successful interviews that their party’s enactment for the Ukrainians is resolute.

“I deliberation we person to proceed to bash everything we tin to enactment Ukraine, who wants to support their state and halt Russia from continuing to expand,” Scott said past Sunday connected NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., besides made a bipartisan amusement of enactment by visiting Ukraine conscionable days earlier the election.

“I americium assured that bipartisan robust American enactment for the combat of the Ukrainian radical volition proceed successful Congress,” Coons said.

The representation is akin successful the House, wherever Ukrainian assistance enjoys bulk support. A missive published past period by the wide flank of the GOP, asking the Biden medication to prosecute diplomatic talks with Russia implicit the war, was rapidly retracted aft an outpouring of disapproval from some parties.