How have Republicans compared to Democrats when it comes to helping Ukraine?
Let's take a look at the record.
Over the weekend, the House approved an aid package of $61 billion for Ukraine. The Senate will quickly approve the package, as well. Soon, therefore, the aid will flow to the beleaguered Ukrainians (with some, inevitably, being siphoned off to corrupt parties in Ukraine). As a result, Ukraine will be more capable of staving off the Russians. U.S. defense firms and workers will also benefit.
Speaker Johnson risked his leadership job by endorsing the aid package. He did so only because Donald Trump did not oppose it. In fact, Trump hosted Johnson at Mar-a-Lago last week and said, “I stand with the speaker.” This reduced the risk to Johnson’s status, but didn’t eliminate it.
The aid bill did not command majority support within the Republican caucus when the bill reached the House floor. However, the key decision point occurred earlier, when the House voted to bring the aid package to the floor. A strong majority of the GOP caucus (151 members) supported that motion (along with 165 Democrats). The subsequent vote was essentially for show.
With this package on its way to full congressional approval, I think it’s fair to say that the Republican record on aiding Ukraine is a least as good (from my anti-Russia perspective) as that of the Democrats. The Democrats record consists of the following:
Barack Obama doing nothing in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea
Obama telling Russia’s president that he could be “more flexible” towards Russia after the 2012 election.
Obama ridiculing Mitt Romney during a 2012 presidential debate for emphasizing the geo-political threat posed by Russia. “The 1980s are calling; they want their foreign policy back,” the smart-ass leftist from Illinois quipped.
Obama declining to send lethal aid to Ukraine in response to Russian aggression in the Donbas region.
As for Joe Biden, he has done quite a bit to help Ukraine, with the support of most Republican members of Congress. But his record also includes:
All but inviting Russia to invade parts of Ukraine by saying that a "minor incursion" into Ukraine might not be punished by NATO
Refusing for at least a year to send Ukraine advanced Western fighter jets with which to fight the Russian aggressors.
Delaying for months the shipment of Abrams tanks to Ukraine.
Additional delays in responding positively to Ukraine’s requests for new capabilities such as long-range artillery, advanced drones, and Patriot missile-defense systems.
The Republican record could also be better. Had Speaker Johnson supported the latest aid package months ago, Ukraine would very likely be in better shape militarily than it is now. And it’s reasonable to believe that Johnson would have done so if Trump had given him the go-ahead.
However, it was Trump who reversed Obama administration policy and sent lethal aid to Ukraine. It’s true that Trump at first, and for a brief time, wanted to condition that aid on Ukraine investigating Hunter Biden. Trump wouldn’t be Trump if he didn’t try a too-clever “art of the deal” stunt like that.
But ultimately, Trump delivered the aid. And ultimately, Republicans delivered the votes needed to bring the latest aid package to the House floor, where passage was a done deal.
Does this mean that a second Trump administration would be better for Ukraine than a second Biden term? It’s hard to say. But what happened in the past is a good guide to what will happen in the future.
So let’s put it this way: Unlike the mainstream media and Democratic politicians, I don’t assume that, going forward, Biden would be better for Ukraine than Trump. In addition, looking backwards, I don’t assume that Putin would have invaded Ukraine if Trump had been reelected.
Great post. I would add that Biden's bug out in Afghanistan gave aid and comfort to Putin, who likely took Biden's measure when he invaded Ukraine, and liked what he saw. It's true Trump was set to leave Afghanistan about the time Biden did, but there's no way Trump would have pulled troops out before getting our citizens and supporters out. Biden not only did that; it's clear from recent congressional testimony that he did it contrary to the unanimous advice of military commanders in Washington and on the ground. Jim Dueholm
I'm pretty certain that if Biden is re-elected Ukraine will lose the war. This could happen if Biden is defeated as well but I am certain that if Biden is re-elected it will happen and it will he largely his fault DESPITE his professed desire to support Ukraine. It is because Biden and his party don't support belligerent allies to win. They support allies to tie or to maintain a bad status quo. And this eventually leads to defeat.