Saturday’s attack on Israel raised new questions about the delivery of aid to war-torn Ukraine after months of tumultuous Republican infighting.
Iran’s unprecedented spate of attacks against Israel has sparked new urgency in Congress to seek additional military aid for the Jewish state, as various factions of the Republican Party capitalize on developments to further their claims on Ukraine.
The aid to Ukraine, which is being launched this week, currently appears to be a long-term prospect.
“We are too thin. [with] How many weapon systems do we need? How many weapon systems does Ukraine need? How many weapon systems does Taiwan need? How many weapon systems does Israel need? And we can’t do all of these things at once,” Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“When you are weak, you have to concentrate and rebuild your country,” he continued. “Can we fight all these conflicts at once? No.”
Vance argued that the United States should encourage Ukraine to “take a defensive posture” against Russian territorial aggression and instead focus more on Israel.
In contrast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has reacted to Iran’s brutal attack, calling it a “wake-up call” to the West.
“It is important that the U.S. Congress takes the necessary decisions to strengthen America’s allies at this critical time,” Zelenskiy said.
A chorus of foreign policy figures within the Republican Party echoed this sentiment.
“These rockets and drones are being purchased by Russia, and they are killing Ukrainians every day. What happened in Israel last night is happening in Ukraine every night,” said House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul. (R-Texas) lamented Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
“The power grid is currently under threat. If Ukraine’s power grid completely goes out, we don’t have time.”
McCaul said it was “the speaker’s decision” as to when the House would consider the foreign aid bill for Ukraine, but “preferably this week.”
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-New York): “Iran, Russia, and China have formed an unholy alliance to weaken and destabilize the United States, Israel, and the free world.” spoke after the Iranian attack.
“We must act decisively. Congress must pass aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.”
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) stressed that time is running out for Ukraine amid multiple setbacks on the battlefield to repel the Russian invaders.
“Everyone understands very well that we are in a critical situation. Russia is starting to gain power, and Ukraine is starting to lose the ability to defend itself,” Turner told NBC. He spoke on the show “Meet the Press.”
“The United States must take steps to provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs. We will see overwhelming support for it in the House of Representatives this week.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) was mum on the exact timeline he was pursuing for considering aid to Ukraine, but said on Sunday: “We are going to send aid.” Ta.
Speakers specifically teased that they are considering packaging some of that aid as loans and using seized Russian assets to fund arms procurement.
Back in February, the Senate passed an additional $95 billion package that included about $14 billion for Israel and $60 billion for Ukraine. Prime Minister Johnson refused to consider it.
Democrats are urging him to do so.
“We didn’t need any reminders about what was going on in Ukraine,” White House national security press secretary Kirby said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “But last night’s events certainly brought into sharp relief the threats that Israel faces in a very tough neighborhood.”
“We just want leadership from the Speaker’s Office to bring it to the floor and get it voted on so that Israel can not only get additional resources and defend itself, but clearly need “And we will make sure that Ukraine can do the same,” he said, referring to the supplement.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), who has emerged as one of the Democratic Party’s most prominent defenders of Israel, echoed similar sentiments.
“We’re all in the same fight and we need to support all these democracies. Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan as well,” Fetterman said on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. .
“It would be a shame if we didn’t deliver this aid.”
President Joe Biden asked Congress to increase aid to Ukraine again last August, but the House was stalled by internal Republican bickering.
Republicans had been trying to force the Biden administration to make concessions on border issues in exchange for aid to Ukraine. But Republicans later killed an additional $118 billion bill that would have strengthened foreign aid and border security provisions.
Some are calling for border issues to be resolved in exchange for aid to Ukraine.
“I’m ready to help Ukraine. I want our southern border addressed as well,” Rubio said on “State of the Union.” “These he wants two things to happen at the same time.”
Looming over all this is the specter that Mr Johnson will suffer a revolt, as his predecessor Kevin McCarthy did last September.
Firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene led the charge, threatening to vacate her chair or file a motion to expel her. She met with Mr Johnson last week, but she subsequently refused to rule out the possibility of her triggering the motion.
“How much will American taxpayers have to pay after this weekend? [sic] Iranian activities? Obviously Ukraine comes first, so how much money will Mr. Zelenskiy get?” Green grumbled. At X.
Some Democrats have suggested they could throw him a lifeline this time if his ouster is predicated on aiding Ukraine, but it’s not entirely clear how many.
Former President Donald Trump also gave Mr. Johnson broad words of support during their meeting at Mar-a-Lago last Friday, although it wasn’t specifically about Ukraine.
