Government Spending Dispute Complicates Future Ukraine Aid

Concerns are increasing that future US aid to Ukraine may be complicated by the latest standoff between House leadership and conservative Republicans who have marked up significant spending cuts in appropriations.

• House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has stated that Ukraine aid must be approved via appropriations and ruled out the prospect of a supplemental package.
• Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), of the House Freedom Caucus says the bloc plans to oppose additional Ukraine funding: "We need to prepare. I know it’s coming..."
• Axios flags another issue on the horizon: “Former President Trump, whose vow to ‘end the war in 24 hours’ is widely considered a euphemism for forcing Ukraine to capitulate, remains by far the frontrunner to win the Republican nomination.”
• Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky responded "Yes," to a recent NBC question asking if he sometimes feels like he is fighting, ‘to a U.S. political timeline.'
• A new survey from the Pew Research Center finds that, "44% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say the U.S. is giving too much aid to Ukraine," - the highest level since shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year.