EPA
News from the NOS•
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the United States has invested more money in aid to Ukraine than anyone else. It involves $ 40 billion in humanitarian, financial and military aid; much more than the European Union (14 billion), the United Kingdom (5 billion) and the commitments of other major donor countries such as Germany, Canada and Poland.
US military support translates into a successful counter-offensive in eastern and southern Ukraine. So far, 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 some of his most outspoken loyalists in Congress, who have continued to question the U.S. response to Putin’s aggression Shot.
There are still large majorities in favor of US aid to Ukraine. A recent poll shows that 72% of Americans think so, including 68% of Americans republicans.
Growing concerns
But on the eve of the midterm – the November 8 mid-term elections to determine who holds power in both Houses of Congress – concerns are growing over the extension of massive US support for Ukraine. Not least because half of the current Republican candidates for Congress are outspoken Trump supporters. If they win extra seats on November 8, their vote will weigh more.
Because Republicans currently have a serious chance in the polls of winning both the House of Representatives and the United States Senate. In the House, a Republican majority through the budget law would have much more influence on the amount and use of aid and would be able to block more generous support proposals.
Debate by both sides
In anticipation of this, current Republican leader in the House, Kevin McCarthy, threw the bat earlier this month. chicken coop wondering whether “blank checks” should also be issued for Ukraine in the future. McCarthy was quickly criticized by Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, but the debate over unconditional support for the party is certainly there and more emphatic than at the start of the war.
Incidentally, that discussion is also on the left wing of the Democrats. After the necessary pressure from the White House, thirty outspoken progressive Democratic MPs withdrew a letter calling on Biden to mainly support the negotiations between Ukraine and Ukraine. Russia.
And what will it do after Europe?
Given the possibility of Republicans gaining a majority in Congress, this will obviously make European leaders think too. To date, no European government leader has openly addressed the question of whether the billions of US dollars in support of Ukraine and the security of the eastern borders of NATO member states will make things more uncertain after the US elections.
But there is a lot of speculation in think tanks about whether the obviousness of such support will diminish and what the European response will be. Especially in the long run, if an expected economic recession with high energy prices also in Europe pushes politicians to question further war aid in favor of new negotiations with Russia.
Also the former secretary general of the Dutch NATO Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to close it doesn’t matter anymore that so the midterm it could be decisive for the further course of the war in Ukraine.
Curious about what else the congressional elections are about? Correspondent Lucas Waagmeester tells you in this video:
Countdown to the interim deadlines, which also concern American democracy
