House Speaker Kevin McCarthy demanded “accountability” over U.S. aid to Ukraine and pledged to question President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington, amid growing tensions among Republicans over funding for the defense of the country.
“Is Zelensky elected to Congress? Is he our president? I don’t think I need to initiate anything and I think I have some questions for him,” McCarthy said Tuesday, in his latest remarks demonstrating skepticism about billions of dollars in U.S. military and other support .
“Where is the accountability for the money we have already spent? What is the plan for victory? I think that’s what the American public wants to know,” he said. ABC News reported.
McCarthy spoke at length on the subject as Zelensky attended meetings of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and was present during President Joe Biden’s speech in which he blasted Russia’s invasion and its ” illegal war of conquest.”
McCarthy spoke days before U.S. government funding ran out, predicting a possible government shutdown amid howls of protest from conservative members of the Freedom Caucus over a temporary spending measure.
The Biden administration hopes to ease tensions to deliver a $24 billion aid package amid the Ukrainian counteroffensive.
“Look what Russia did – invade – it’s wrong,” McCarthy said.
“It’s an atrocity, we want to make sure it stops. I’ve also always said from the beginning, no matter what the problem is, I want accountability for everything that hard-working taxpayers have spend their money. I want to plan for victory. So no, I will listen to the American public. I will follow what is happening in Congress, but I will have questions for President Zelensky,” he added.
“I will have some questions for President Zelensky,” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said, amid deep skepticism within his caucus about funding the war in Ukraine to repel the Russian invasion .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky watched as President Joe Biden told the United Nations General Assembly that no nation is safe if the world allows Ukraine to be “carved up” by Russia.
President Joe Biden addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday morning. In his speech, he attacked Russia’s “illegal war of conquest” in Ukraine and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to the cause of aid to Ukraine.
This happened as a Georgia representative, Marjorie Taylor Greene, continued to rant about aid to Ukraine on X, the site formerly known as Twitter.
“I will not vote to fund a single cent for the war in Ukraine, anything against COVID, and for a politically armed government,” she said.
She also agreed with Trump ally Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) that she would oppose a temporary measure negotiated between conservatives and more centrist Republicans that would cut nondefense domestic funding by another 8 percent. .
“Oh, absolutely. I am NO! Jack Smith’s (special advisor) funding of Trump’s persecution is one of my red lines. No money for Ukraine or COVID madness either. And continuing Pelosi’s policies, even for just one day, is unacceptable.
Biden warned at the UN that no nation can be safe if “we allow Ukraine to be divided.”
“I ask you this: If we abandon the fundamental principles of the United States of appeasing an aggressor, can any member state of this body have the certainty of being protected?” » Biden said. “If we let Ukraine divide, is the independence of a nation assured?
“I respectfully suggest the answer is no,” he said.
Biden has an ally in Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is pushing for continued U.S. funding.
“Helping Ukraine regain its territory means weakening — weakening — one of America’s greatest strategic adversaries, without firing a single shot,” McConnell said recently on the Senate floor.
Conservatives are at war over the spending bill, called the CR, and over aid to Ukraine.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Florida) promoted the bill in the short term – in part by touting its lack of funding for Ukraine.
“The 30-day CR does 2 things: 1. Secure the southern border. 2. Reduce public spending by 8%. **There is NO Ukraine $$$** The truth is that Congress needs more time to make the spending cuts and reforms necessary to end the militarization of our government and save our country,” he wrote.
Gaetz, who has threatened to push for a no-confidence vote against McCarthy, said: “Pulling disparate government agencies (sic) into one big vote is a terrible idea. My friend Byron left out his list that Donalds CR is funding Jack Smith’s election interference. I’m a NO. We have to be better than that.