The Washington Post reported Wednesday that the US’s European allies are concerned that the US may dial back its support for Ukraine if Republicans are victorious in the upcoming midterm elections.
So far, spending billions on the war in Ukraine has had strong bipartisan support in Washington. The concern in Europe stems from recent comments made by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who said a Republican-controlled House won’t be willing to write a “blank check” for Ukraine.
But it’s not clear if a Republican majority would make much of a difference as other GOP leaders downplayed McCarthy’s comments and promised more aid for Ukraine. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnel (R-KY) said a Republican-controlled Senate “will focus its oversight on ensuring timely delivery of needed weapons and greater allied assistance to Ukraine.”
But McCarthy’s comments have still caused concern in Europe as the US has been by far the largest provider of aid to Ukraine. A European official told the Post that while European countries are still supporting Ukraine despite soaring energy prices, less support from the US could change things.
“You could really imagine that if this were to falter within the United States, then the house of cards would start falling,” the official said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told Axios on Wednesday that he was “concerned” with McCarthy’s comments, but that he thinks the aid will continue to flow. “We are concerned with these statements. We believe they are unfair. But I think we’ll fix it and I am certain that we will handle these risks effectively and that aid to Ukraine will not be cut,” he said.
According to a report from NBC News, the potential Republican skepticism has prompted lawmakers in both parties to seek a massive Ukraine aid bill before the new Congress is sworn in this January. The idea would be to pass enough funds for an entire year, and it is expected to be worth roughly $50 billion, which will bring total US spending on the war to over $115 billion. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said on Tuesday that more Ukraine aid is on the way and will be included in an omnibus spending bill this fall.
When the ground freezes Ukraine will cease to cease followed by Finland!
As the cost of food and energy continues to rise, European allies should be more worried about how their own people feel about support for Ukraine than about American politics.
“European Allies Worry US Might Reduce Support for Ukraine” Seriously? Which European allies? Other than Ukraine and Poland, who’s worried about that?
Other than Poland: The Netherlands, UK, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Slovakia, Czechia, Slovenia, Croatia and likely Spain too.
Well then, shouldn’t they compel the great and wonderful Oz, I mean the U.S., to negotiate an end to the madness?
We all are willing to negotiate – the problem is that Putin wants us to negotiate peace based on accepting his annexation and the West want to start negotiations based on Russia leaving all the annexed territories incl. Crimea and the negotiation subject then being the amount of reparations Russia has to pay Ukraine.
As long as that is the position I rather doubt that there will be any serious negotiations.
See my above post, please.
Oh, V, but our guvvmint has decided that “negotiations” will occur only on ZelBoy’s terms!
I know, it’s in the headline, but I didn’t see it in the body of the article. I did only skim read, however.
So do I at times.
Nothing to “worry” about … there’s no conceivable way American policy will change. We are committed to fighting Russia to the last Ukrainian soldier, rest assured …
And, to the last city in countries bordering Russia.
It’s NOT our war. If Zelensky wants to send more of his men to their deaths and destroy more of Ukraine, go do it using your own money instead of American taxpayers dollars.
Yes. Same with Europe.
Why are USA bases in Europe?
Europe can defend itself.?
Keep USA dollars to help at home?
It IS our war, a war we have wanted since the end of WWII. We have the luxury of having another country chewed up, while we remain unscathed, as in WWI, WWII, Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq, Grenada, Panama, et al.
I couldn’t help but think of a song by the Beach Boys. “And she’ll have fun fun fun till her daddy takes the T-bird away.”
Maybe that anonymous “official” would be for a binding referendum of the EU nations’ populace on whether they prefer economic misery and minimal energy resources to help their Dictator Friend in sending more $$$ into a black hole?
“The concern in Europe stems from recent comments made by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who said a Republican-controlled House won’t be willing to write a “blank check” for Ukraine.”
Seriously? I’m sure Kevin was being sincere in that it won’t be ‘blank’. It will have a number followed by a shitload of zeros and the vast majority will vote in favor.
Political statement. There will be no end to the blank check.
McCarthy also said that when the GOP controls both housed of congress, the national debt reduction would be number one, and it will be tied to reduction or elimination of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Of course he left unsaid that there will be no reduction in the “defense” budget.
Ah, don’t worry Europe, both parties are pro war. Reps. are lying again to get votes as they always do. Then the Dems. will also lie next time. Both Obama and Trump campaigned to end the wars, but neither did. And, when Afghan. ended, Ukraine started right on schedule. And, the people continue to vote for the liars of their choices.
Maybe I skimmed too fast, but what other European allies are complaining about this aside from the quotes in Ukraine?
BTW:
I am one of them.
Support for Ukraine could dry up at any moment. When it becomes clear that they are passing up opportunities for peace and keep piling on requests for more and more aid, the support within Ukraine will start to dry up. No one in NATO is going to actually get in the fight.
On this we absolutely agree!
The usage of Iranian suicide drones seems to have deepened the support, as in widening the sanctions and increasing the speed of deliveries – I can dig up the sources that illustrates this, but I find it more interesting to hear what makes you think this, other than McCarthy’s statement and the now retracted words of some democrats what makes you say this?
The evidence we have points in the opposite direction – support for continuing the war having gone up from 82 to 86 percent – admittedly a Ukrainian source, but then that is the only roughly comparable figures available.
Support in May: https://www.kiis.com.ua/?lang=ukr&cat=reports&id=1111&page=1
Support in October: https://www.kiis.com.ua/?lang=ukr&cat=reports&id=1151&page=1&fbclid=IwAR0RPVcXmOF5o3itWa88UN3m3mldNot95K8iSQvlwIgglg7Q7honvjSLpR4
It broadly agrees with the idea that terror bombing a population usually stiffens their resolve rather than weaken it – so though we can question the reliability of the source the direction of the movement does not seem unbelievable, but then the difference is as small as to support the idea that there is no shift as-well.