As the Senate prepares to vote Tuesday on approving foreign aid to Ukraine, some stark differences have been exposed in the Republican conference.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has been an ardent supporter of additional aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia. McConnell for months called on the House to pass a bill approving the aid, which it did Saturday.
In an editorial published in February, McConnell said aid to Ukraine was "not charity, but an investment in cold, hard U.S. interests."
"What has been lost in all of the debate over the Senate's legislation is this simple truth: By standing with our friend Ukraine and supporting their fight for freedom, we can degrade Russia's military capabilities, the third largest military force in the world, without risking the life of a single American soldier," McConnell wrote in the Northern Kentucky Tribune.
But the minority leader’s position has drawn vocal opposition from his Republican colleagues, including from Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, who has been outspoken in his opposition against aid to Ukraine.
Vance said the money and weapons the U.S. aims to send to Ukraine would not be enough to defeat Russia, even if it boosts American interests.
"The notion that we should prolong a bloody and gruesome war because it's been good for American business is grotesque," Vance wrote. "We can and should rebuild our industrial base without shipping its products to a foreign conflict."
On "State of the Union" last week, Vance said Ukraine has not articulated what its ambition actually is.
"What is $61 billion going to accomplish that $100 billion hasn't?" Vance said.
The Ohio senator argued in a recent New York Times opinion column that Ukraine should commit to a defensive strategy to help preserve its manpower and allow for negotiations with Putin.
"The Biden administration has no viable plan for the Ukrainians to win this war," Vance wrote. "The sooner Americans confront this truth, the sooner we can fix this mess and broker for peace."
Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Josh Hawley, R-Mo. also have opposed additional funding to Ukraine while Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. hit back against Vance, calling his position "garbage."
"I challenge J.D. Vance to go to Ukraine and get a briefing from the Ukrainian military and talk with Ukrainian people, then tell me what you think. We're going back, you're welcome to come," Graham said in a television interview Sunday. "Quit talking about things you don't know anything about until you go."
Sam Barron ✉
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.
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