Mitch McConnell insists that more than $60 billion in taxpayer money for Ukraine is ‘not a lot’ of money for the US to spend, but it is ‘significant’ to supply advanced weapons
- The Senate approved funding for Ukraine on Tuesday evening as part of a $95 billion foreign aid package
- The Kentucky Republican told Fox News that he “hopes” the money will be enough to “decisively” push back on Russia.
GOP leader Mitch McConnell emphasized that the $60 billion the US is willing to send to Ukraine is “not very much” for the US, but will prove a “significant” advantage in the fight against Vladimir Putin.
The Senate approved funding for Ukraine on Tuesday evening as part of a $95 billion foreign aid package.
Implementing the aid for Ukraine has become the culmination of McConnell’s fifteen years as leader of the Republican Senate. Reversing his own party’s isolationist trend has created a historically defining moment.
The Kentucky Republican told Fox News that he “hopes” the money will be enough to “decisively” push back on Russia.
Pushing through support for Ukraine has become the capstone of McConnell’s 15 years as leader of the Republican Senate. Reversing his own party’s isolationist trend has created a historically defining moment
“It’s not a whole lot of money for us,” McConnell said, noting that the $60 billion is about 0.2 percent of U.S. GDP. “But it’s a very important step for them because it gives them the more advanced weapons.”
McConnell will step down as leader of the Senate Republicans at the end of this Congress. He will remain as senator until the end of his term in 2027.
The package passed in 79/18 commits $60 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel and Gaza and about $4 billion for the Indo-Pacific – and a measure that could allow TikTok to enter the US is prohibited.
The typically stoic Senate leader pulled no punches at a news conference Tuesday, blaming Tucker Carlson for anti-Ukrainian sentiment among Republicans.
Carlson “who, in my opinion, ended up where he should have been all along, which was interviewing Vladimir Putin,” McConnell said, had convinced “a lot of regular Republicans” that helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia is not important.
The Ukrainian bill includes $23 billion to replenish U.S. supplies depleted by the fight in Russia.
About $11 billion would go to U.S. military operations in the region and $14 billion would go toward the purchase of advanced weapons systems.
US aid to Ukraine will disappear after President Biden signed a $95 billion foreign aid package
In this photo provided by Mayor of Odesa Hennadii Trukhanov in Telegram, firefighters work at the scene of a burning building after a Russian drone attack in Odesa, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 23
Another $26 million would go toward oversight and accountability for equipment given to Ukraine.
Two separate economic aid funds worth $7.85 billion and $1.58 billion would also be offered to Ukraine under a loan structure.
“Make no mistake: the delay in supplying weapons to Ukraine to defend itself has dented the prospects for defeating Russian aggression. Doubt and hesitation have compounded the challenges we face,” McConnell said ahead of the vote.
“I will not mince words when members of my own party take the responsibilities of America’s leadership lightly.”
The Israeli security law will provide $4 billion to supplement Israel’s Iron Dome Missile Defense system and billions more for weapons systems, artillery and ammunition, as well as another $2.4 billion for U.S. operations in the region.
Nine billion dollars of that bill will go to humanitarian aid for the Palestinians in Gaza.