RFI Biden should face more resistance in 2023 to send aid to Ukraine 12/22/2022 07:35

The White House is likely to encounter resistance from Republicans aligned with America’s nationalist views to pass a Ukraine aid package under review by the US Congress.

This Wednesday (21) night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a speech to the US Congress, ending an announced last-minute visit to Washington to outline the details of financial aid and assistance to the country that has been at war for 10 months. against Russia. It was the first trip abroad for the president of Ukraine.

Inflationary pressure, the threat of recession, and financial aid to Ukraine could be a challenge for President Joe Biden. Because it will be up to Congress to approve the US$45 billion additional package that the White House plans to send to the Ukrainians.

With the restructuring of the two legislatures, it will be difficult to unify the votes. After the midterm elections in November, Republicans have a narrow lead in the House of Representatives and Biden has a weak majority in the Senate.

And if, numerically, the advantage is almost equal in both houses, aid to a foreign country will be even more criticized by republicans, mainly because next year will be one of many pressures from the opposition – this will be the third year democratic considering the 2024 presidential election. with the mandate and the republicans.

the scenario has changed

The Biden administration has so far sent nearly $67 billion in economic and military aid to Ukraine. Part of that amount was a US$40 billion package approved by the House in May with 358 votes in favor and only 57 against. In the Senate at the time, only 11 senators voted against the bill for final approval.

On the other hand, politically, Republicans, the press and some of the public against Biden are increasingly criticizing this aid both because of the problems in the economy and because of problems such as migration and humanitarian crisis at the border. and the United States, particularly in Texas.

In a November poll, just over half of Republican voters supported aid to Ukraine – much less than 80% who expressed their support in March, shortly after the war began.

charity and sweatshirt

Volodymyr Zelensky’s surprise visit to Ukraine paid off. The United States has announced that it will provide approximately $2 billion in additional military aid, which includes the transfer of war tanks, artillery and missiles, as well as the Patriot air defense system, which is considered to be highly effective and costly.

As for his speech on Wednesday evening, Zelensky addressed Congress and the public in English. He said aid should not be seen as charity, but as an investment by the US government in world democracy.

This statement of the Ukrainian president was also criticized. The pro-republican press even denounced Zelensky’s green sweatshirt, saying he should present himself on Capitol Hill more formally, and indeed it’s not about charity.

On Twitter, Republican Representative Andy Biggs wrote: “No more blank checks to Ukraine.” Biggs is one of the rising leaders in the more nationalist wing aligned with Donald Trump.

But on the other hand, throughout the day, pro-Biden Democrats did everything to support the visit. House’s current Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi, has done everything to bring senators and representatives to Congress in the week close to Christmas and on a snowy day across much of the country’s mid-east.

At the White House prior to the event in Congress, Biden had used the same argument as Zelensky to defend democracy to reaffirm his support for the warring country against Russia. Biden described Vladimir Putin’s actions as a brutal attack on Ukrainians’ right to exist as a nation. And he reiterated that the United States will strengthen Ukraine’s self-defense capability through training and more missile deployments. But that will depend not only on him, but rather on the will of Congress, which is increasingly considering 2024.