Zelenskyy Urges Republican Leaders to Consider Weapons Wish List

While some Republicans want stipulations imposed on aid to Ukraine, that country’s president met with a delegation of GOP lawmakers, who vowed to consider his latest requests.

The group of five House Republicans, including Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, sat down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week as the group traveled across the country.

Sources familiar with the meeting said the congressional delegation promised to consider Zelenskyy’s requests for weapons and “other necessities” to continue the fight against Russia.

As CNN reports:

The meeting, set against the backdrop of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion, is a stark example of how far apart members within the Republican Party are on how to handle US involvement in the war moving forward. The divide has only deepened since the GOP took over the House majority in January, even as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has carefully attempted to remain neutral on the issue.

It also comes at a time when President Joe Biden is facing increasing pressure to supply the Ukrainians with more advanced weaponry that some of his own military commanders have privately acknowledged could help Ukraine win the war.

Zelenskyy told the delegation he’d supply them with a list of items to stop the Russian invaders, including F-16 fighter jets.

A U.S. military commander reportedly told the GOP representatives that fighter jets and longer-range missiles are crucial for Ukraine to break the stalemate.

McCaul expressed his sympathy for Zelenskyy and the fledgling democracy, but CNN notes navigating the political climate back home may prove difficult:

“There is a broad, bipartisan support between the United States and our NATO and European allies to support Ukraine against Russian aggression,” McCaul said during his congressional delegation to Ukraine. “[W]e had a very productive meeting with President Zelensky. We talked primarily about what his needs are when it comes to winning this war. And he is providing this delegation with the list of the weapons the Ukraine needs to win.”

…

That position, however, may become increasingly untenable as upcoming spending fights, congressional hearings and the 2024 presidential race firmly place the question of whether to add to the $113 billion the US has already sent Ukraine front and center – and as some Republicans push back on the prospect of additional aid.

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