Republicans oppose Democrats' plan to fund Ukraine with seized assets, says Washington Post
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In the U.S, a group of House and Senate Republicans have opposed the ruling Democratic Party's plan to fund Ukraine with seized Russian assets, The Washington Post reported on Oct.28, referring to people involved in the negotiations.
According to the publication, Republicans were against a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would allow Washington to transfer the proceeds of seized Russian assets to Ukraine.
Democrats say removing the provision from the nearly $840 billion package undercuts the Biden administration’s ability to provide Ukraine with financial support.
“It is unconscionable Senate Republicans are obstructing an important provision that would allow DOJ to transfer forfeited Russian assets to assist Ukraine and its effort against Russia’s brutal war,” said a Democrat, who spoke to WP on the condition of anonymity.
Republicans attempted to justify their position by claiming that the provision hasn't been properly reviewed by the committees in charge. They believe the provision should be reviewed by the House and Senate judiciary committees, am unnamed Republican said. Republicans also question the effectiveness of a plan to impose a cap on Russian oil prices.
“We’re all for supporting Ukraine, which is why we think the more meaningful measure to stop funding Putin’s war machine would be to cut off the oil funding it,” a Republican Senate aide said.
The dispute over the measure comes amid questions about the future of Republican support for Ukraine’s war effort against the Russian invasion. Establishment Republicans, led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, promised to continue helping Ukraine with billions of dollars approved in the U.S. budget, while House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy warned they could reduce aid to Kyiv. The White House has pledged to continue supporting Ukraine until the full-scale war ends.
In the end of September, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Europe had frozen $500 billion in Russian assets and was then working on a proposal to pay for rebuilding Ukraine with them.
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