Is Ukraine the Biggest Loser in the US Midterm Elections? (Summary)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Ukraine is concerned that if the Republican Party gains more power in the U.S. Congress following the midterm elections scheduled for the 8th, it could put a brake on U.S. support policies for Ukraine, U.S. political media outlet Politico reported on the 7th (local time).

The issue of funding for support to Ukraine is a major point of contention between the Republican and Democratic parties in U.S. foreign policy. As the war has lasted longer than expected and the amount of funds deployed has increased, the U.S. has begun to emphasize that it cannot be a "blank check."

In particular, some far-right Republican lawmakers have publicly expressed their intention to halt funding for Ukraine ahead of the elections.

Far-right Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene declared during a speech in Iowa on the 3rd, "If the Republicans win, not another penny will go to Ukraine."

Kevin McCarthy, the Republican House Majority Leader, also recently stated in an interview with U.S. media Punchbowl News that if the Republicans win the House midterm elections, they will not automatically agree to support measures for Ukraine.

He emphasized, "I don't think people who are entering a recession next year will write a blank check to Ukraine," adding, "Ukraine is important, but at the same time, (unconditional support) cannot be the only option." He stressed that the U.S. economic recovery should be prioritized over support for Ukraine.

Various polls released ahead of the elections show a clear trend of Republican gains. If the Republicans win a majority in either the House or the Senate, the momentum behind President Biden's Ukraine support policies is likely to weaken significantly.

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, former Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and current opposition lawmaker, said, "I hope Ukraine does not become a victim of the partisan disputes happening in the U.S.," adding, "Because the Ukraine war is highly dependent on the U.S., we are closely watching the midterm election results."

On the other hand, there are claims that opposition to Ukraine support within the Republican Party is not significant. Pavlo Klimkin, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister, said, "I am confident that support for our country will continue even after the midterm elections."

For example, when a $40 billion bill for military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine was passed in May, 11 Republican senators and 57 Republican representatives voted against it, indicating a notable number of dissenters within the party.

According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German think tank tracking international support for Ukraine, the U.S. has pledged a total of $52 billion in military, economic, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February. This amount is nearly twice the $29 billion pledged by the European Union (EU) and the Group of Seven (G7) countries combined.

Yulia Osmolovska, senior researcher at Globsec, a global think tank headquartered in Bratislava, Slovakia, said, "The U.S. midterm elections will influence the Democratic Party's decision to maintain military support for Ukraine," adding, "We are closely monitoring what kind of congressional composition will emerge afterward."

The midterm elections on the 8th will elect all 435 members of the House, 35 of the 100 Senate seats, governors of 36 states, and state legislators in 46 states. Since the elections are held at the end of President Biden's second year in office, they carry significance as an evaluation of the administration.

Current polls show a strong likelihood that the Republicans will take control of the House, while the Senate race is extremely close with Republicans holding a slight lead.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.