The Biden administration believes that there is still broad bipartisan support in Congress for further U.S. aid packages to Ukraine. It estimates that an overwhelming majority of Republican members will join Democrats in voting for future arms deliveries.
According to White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, support for military and economic assistance to Ukraine remains strong in both political camps and has been communicated to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj and other European allies.
Some “dissonant voices” are said to exist within the Republican Party – but by and large, both Republicans and Democrats are united in support of the war effort, according to Sullivan, who emphasizes that Republicans “in key leadership positions” want to continue supporting Ukraine.
– We believe that the support will be there and will be sustained. Our view is that (Ukraine and U.S. allies in Europe) have confidence that the U.S. will continue to be there, as we have committed to be.
At the same time, there has been a shift in tone among Republicans as it has become clear that Ukraine has not fared well in the war. Former President Donald Trump, who is running for president again, has called for the United States to stop all military aid.
– A lot of the rank-and-file members were pretty clear: We’ve done what we can do, we need to focus on some of our own internal problems now, Republican Congressman Andy Harris told Politico.
According to Don Bacon, who represents Nebraska in the House of Representatives, about 70% of Republicans now support continued military aid to Ukraine.