After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, political support for the U.S. ally was relatively bipartisan. Leaders from both parties recognized the seriousness of the international crisis and responded accordingly.
Nearly two years later, political conditions on Capitol Hill have changed considerably — and the future of U.S. support for Ukraine is in serious doubt.
The White House this week sent a letter to congressional leaders with dire warnings and pleas for legislative action. As NBC News reported, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young stressed the United States is “out of money — and nearly out of time” to provide weapons and equipment to Ukraine.
“I want to be clear: without congressional action, by the end of the year we will run out of resources to procure more weapons and equipment for Ukraine and to provide equipment from U.S. military stocks,” Young wrote. “There is no magical pot of funding available to meet this moment.”
She warned that the lack of aid would “kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield, not only putting at risk the gains Ukraine has made, but increasing the likelihood of Russian military victories.”
That was yesterday. Today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at the behest of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and President Joe Biden, will address senators via video conference at a classified briefing. The point is simple: The Ukrainian leader will make clear to lawmakers that U.S. military aid is absolutely necessary.
But if the need is great, the crisis is now, and leaders of both parties are willing to support our allies in the midst of a deadly war, what’s the problem? The answer is that Republicans will only approve aid to Ukraine if Democrats agree to a series of far-right border policies.
To be sure, there’s no connection between the war in Ukraine and domestic immigration. But GOP lawmakers believe they have leverage, effectively telling Democrats that Republicans will let Ukraine suffer…
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