House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) did not give a Russian reporter any hope the United States will stop sending weapons to Ukraine.
During a trip to Israel, a Russian reporter asked the House speaker, “We know that you don’t support the current unlimited and uncontrolled supplies of weaponry and aid to Ukraine. So can you comment? Is it possible, if in the near future, the U.S. policy regarding sending weaponry to Ukraine will change?”
“The sound here is not good,” McCarthy said before asking, “Did he say I don’t support aid to Ukraine?”
He continued, “No. I vote for aid for Ukraine. I support aid for Ukraine. I do not support what your country has done to Ukraine.”
“I do not support your killing of the children either. And I think from one standpoint, you should pull out and I don’t think it’s right. And we will continue to support [Ukraine] because the rest of the world sees it just as it is,” McCarthy added.
Watch the video below:
When a Russian reporter asks him if the U.S. will send more weapons and aid to Ukraine, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy — despite previously saying there should be no “blank check” — says he supports helping Ukraine:
— The Recount (@therecount) May 1, 2023
“I support aid for Ukraine … We will continue to support.” pic.twitter.com/d5Fmr1RNCM
Before the 2022 midterm elections, McCarthy said Republicans would not provide a “blank check” to Ukraine if they won the House majority.
Speaking to Punchbowl News, he said, “I think people are gonna be sitting in a recession and they’re not going to write a blank check to Ukraine.”
“They just won’t do it… It’s not a free blank check,” the California Republican added.
Days later, he defended the comment as he told CNBC, “I think Ukraine is very important. I support making sure that we move forward to defeat Russia in that program. But there should be no blank check on anything. We are $31 trillion in debt.”
“Wouldn’t you want a check and balance in Congress? Wouldn’t you want this hardworking taxpayers’ money, someone overseeing it? We’ve got to eliminate the wasteful spending in Washington,” he added.
Congress has approved more than $100 billion in aid to Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion last year.
While McCarthy vowed the U.S. will continue to support Ukraine, several polls have found Americans’ support for assistance has decreased over the last year.
In February, a poll released by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found 48% of Americans said they support sending weapons to Ukraine, down from roughly 60% in May 2022.
Meanwhile, those who said they were opposed to sending weapons rose from 22% last year to 29% in February.
Additionally, 37% of respondents said they support sending funds to Ukraine, and 38% said they opposed it.