The U.S. Congress rejected the request of Republicans to audit aid to Ukraine

Representatives of the U.S. Republican Party on Tuesday, December 6, rallied behind a resolution sponsored by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) to audit U.S. military and economic aid for Ukraine.

The Washington Post reported this.

The measure, presented before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was defeated in a 26-to-22 vote due to the unity of Democrats, who still control the panel.

Representatives of the panel commented that approving the audit is a risky measure that sends a signal to Ukraine about doubts with regard to US support.

“This is not the time for us to be divided,” said Rep. Gregory W. Meeks of New York, the Committee’s top Democrat.

Still, despite the setback, Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the Committee’s top Republican, mentioned that the administration should brace for “responsibility and accountability.”

Although the resolution was defeated, Greene confirmed that she would reintroduce the resolution in the next Congress when the Republicans hold a majority.

Support of the Republican Party

The Tuesday vote follows a consistent drop in support for assistance to Ukraine among Republicans, according to recent polling.

The latest survey by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs released on Monday found 55 percent of Republicans saying they support sending military aid, compared with 68 percent in July and 80 percent in March. Half of Republicans favored providing economic assistance to Ukraine last month, compared with roughly three-quarters in March, according to the Chicago Council’s findings.

According to the survey conducted last month, across the political spectrum, more than two-thirds of respondents supported supplying Ukraine with weapons and economic assistance, and about three-quarters backed accepting Ukrainian refugees and sanctioning Russia.

US military assistance

The United States has announced 25 tranches of military aid to Ukraine since August 2021. Last month’s $400 million package included additional arms, munitions, and equipment, and it brought total U.S. military assistance to Ukraine to nearly $20 billion since President Biden took office.

The United States is also allocating $53 million to help repair Ukraine’s electrical systems, which have sustained significant damage from Russian missile strikes in recent weeks.