Zelensky turned to Republicans in Congress for support

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky confronted critical Republican lawmakers during his address to a joint session of Congress, who may delay allocating billions of dollars in military aid beginning in January, when Republicans gain control of the House of Representatives.

Joe Biden’s administration has sent nearly $50 billion in aid to Ukraine since the Russian invasion began, including humanitarian, financial and military support. Congress, now controlled by Democrats, is expected to approve another $44.9 billion for Ukraine this week, included in a bill to fund the federal government.

It remains to be seen whether congressional support for Ukraine will change after Republicans take control of the House next month. Democrats retained control of the Senate in the November midterm elections.

Zelensky emphasized at the beginning of his speech that he was addressing both Democrats and Republicans.

Speaking to a House chamber filled with hundreds of lawmakers, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine is fighting for the common good and thanked all Americans for their help.

“Your money is not charity. It’s an investment in global security and democracy,” Zelensky said.

Nevertheless, the flow of funding may slow down starting Jan. 3, when Republicans win a slim majority in the House of Representatives. Some Republicans have called for an end to aid that helps Ukraine fight Russian troops, instead calling for an audit to see how money previously allocated has been spent.

In May, during the House vote on a bill to give Ukraine more than $40 billion, all 57 votes against came from Republicans.

“No more carte blanche for Ukraine,” Republican Andy Biggs tweeted hours before Zelensky’s visit to Washington. Biggs, a member of the Freedom Caucus, the conservative faction of Republicans in the House of Representatives, is the primary challenger to current Republican leader Kevin McCarthy in the election for speaker of the House, scheduled for Jan. 3.

Several of the most uncompromising Republicans, including Congresswoman Lauren Beaubert and Matt Getz, remained seated during the applause and were reading messages on their phones while Zelensky spoke.

After the speech, both told reporters they would not support giving more aid to Kiev. Goetz said his negative attitude toward giving aid to Ukraine has not changed. Asked if there was anything memorable about Zelensky’s speech, he said, “I liked his choice of clothes.”

“Most of my constituents don’t want their money going to Ukraine, especially without oversight or audit,” Republican Congressman Thomas Massey, who represents Kentucky, told Fox News.

“I will oppose giving more money to Ukraine as long as our southern border remains open to invading drug cartels,” said Congresswoman Mary Miller of Illinois.

Zelensky, during a speech Wednesday, urged Republican lawmakers to think more broadly in their view of the world.

“Ukraine has never asked American soldiers to fight on our soil instead of us. I assure you that Ukrainian soldiers are perfectly capable of flying American tanks and planes themselves,” the Ukrainian president said. – I know that everything depends on us, the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but so much depends on the world. So much in the world depends on you.

Many Republicans, however, believe that aid to Ukraine should continue, albeit with more oversight.

“A majority of both parties in the House and Senate support this effort. But they’re not going to do it if we don’t have accountability and transparency,” said Republican Michael McCaul, the candidate for House Foreign Affairs chairman.

While Republicans are unlikely to stop aid entirely, they could slow it down or reduce it, using the issue as leverage to get concessions from Democrats on Republican priorities, such as curbing illegal immigration at the border with Mexico.