Scandal in the US Congress: 18 Republicans defied the party line and voted for huge aid to Ukraine
The US Congress was rocked by a controversial vote on support for Ukraine after 18 Republicans broke the party line and backed a multibillion-dollar package, sparking a backlash in Washington.
US House of Representatives PHOTO: EPA/EFE
The measure, sponsored by Democrat Gregory Meeks, includes $1 billion for security and reconstruction and another $8 billion in defense loans to Ukraine. The law imposes sanctions and trade restrictions on banks, oil and mining companies, and Russian officials. The bill also imposes 500 percent tariffs on Russian products imported into the United States and bans imports of crude oil from Russia.
The vote passed with 226 votes “for” and 195 “against”, being considered an important political signal at a time when American support for Kiev is becoming increasingly disputed, according to the independent.
One of the supporters of the project explained the stake of the vote in a stark way: “We all want this war to end. The question is how. Are we going to abandon Ukraine and force it into a disastrous deal?”Rep. Gregory Meeks asked, adding that “Vladimir Putin is betting on it.”
Sharp divisions in Congress
Although most Republicans voted against it, 18 Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the bill, along with one independent.
One supporter, Republican Brian Fitzpatrick, said the vote sends a clear message: “We have a pulse here, that we care about Ukraine and that we will use our authority to help it”adding that the initiative will also convey “a strong message to the soldiers of Ukraine”.
In the opposition camp, the criticism was harsh. Brian Mast, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said the bill is “a tool to fight President Trump”considering it an initiative “frivolous”.
For his part, the leader of the Republicans in the House, Steve Scalise, warned that the adoption of the project could affect the ongoing negotiations: “I think they will lead to positive results, but if you pass a law that doesn't go as far as the negotiations go, you can hurt that process“, he said.
Supporters of the project say the vote is intended to send a signal to both Ukraine and Russia.
Republican Don Bacon put the position in stark terms: “Will we side with good or evil? That's what tonight's about.”
Also, representative Brian Fitzpatrick emphasized that the decision also has a strategic component: “We hope to send a clear message that we will not abandon Ukraine.”
The conflict sparked by Russia's full-scale invasion has been ongoing for over four years with no clear end in sight. During this time, the US has approved approximately $195 billion in aid to Ukraine, a significant portion of which has been directed toward rebuilding US military stockpiles.
