A group of Republican members of Congress have told President Biden they won’t support more “unrestrained” aid for Ukraine, Responsible Statecraft reported on Thursday.
“A proxy war with Russia in Ukraine is not in the strategic interest of the United States and risks an escalation that could spiral out of control,” the lawmakers said in a letter to the president.
The letter was signed by three Republican senators — Rand Paul (KY), Mike Lee (R-UT), and JD Vance (R-OH) — and 16 GOP members of the House. They noted that recent aid the US has pledged, including M1 Abrams tanks, will require months of training, which signals the administration is ready for a long-term conflict.
“The current strategy of sanctions and drawn-out aid will only prolong the conflict, leading to escalation and more violence. Our national and economic security demand an alternative,” the lawmakers wrote. “Unrestrained US aid for Ukraine must come to an end, and we will adamantly oppose all future aid packages unless they are linked to a clear diplomatic strategy designed to bring this war to a rapid conclusion.”
The lawmakers warned of the risk of provoking a direct war with Russia. “Russian tolerance for fighting a proxy war with NATO could run out at any point. The decision to invade Ukraine should be evidence enough of Putin’s willingness to use military force and should give us pause in continuing to push the limits at the risk of catastrophe,” they said.
Much of the Republican opposition to arming Ukraine is because they believe the US should be focusing on building up its military in the Asia Pacific to prepare for a future conflict with China, which came through in the letter.
“Should our actions entangle us in a confrontation with Russia now or should conflict erupt in the Indo-Pacific in the coming years, we fear that our military will be woefully unprepared to meet these challenges as a direct result of what has been shipped to Ukraine,” they said.
The Republicans close the letter by calling on President Biden to push for a diplomatic solution. “We strongly urge you to advocate for a negotiated peace between the two sides, bringing this awful conflict to a close,” they said.
The Republicans in the House who signed the letter include Reps. Eli Crane (AZ), Mary Miller (IL), Paul Gosar (AZ), Andy Biggs (AZ), Matt Gaetz (FL), Anna Paulina Luna (FL), Dan Bishop (NC), Barry Moore (AL), Lauren Boebert (CO), Tim Burchett (TN), Andy Ogles (TN), Ralph Norman (SC), Matt Rosendale (MT), Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA), Mike Collins (GA), and Josh Brecheen (TX).
To date, Congress has authorized about $113 billion to spend on the war in Ukraine. The Biden administration is still drawing funds from the $45 billion package approved in December. That aid is expected to be exhausted by the summer, meaning the White House will likely ask Congress to authorize more soon.
Source: AntiWar.
