Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to Twitter Saturday to congratulate newly-elected House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), also saying his besieged country is counting on continued support under the new regime in the House.
“Congratulations to [Kevin McCarthy] on his election as the Speaker of the [United States] House of Representatives,” Zelenskyy posted to Twitter.
“U.S. support in all fields has been vital for [Ukraine’s] success on the battlefield. We’re counting on your continued support and further U.S. assistance to bring our common victory closer,” he added.
Congratulations to @GOPLeader on his election as the Speaker of 🇺🇸 House of Representatives. U.S. support in all fields has been vital for 🇺🇦’s success on the battlefield. We’re counting on your continued support and further U.S. assistance to bring our common victory closer.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 7, 2023
After a historically long battle for the gavel, McCarthy finally garnered the necessary votes to win the speakership early Saturday morning on the fifteenth ballot after making substantial concessions and flipping the votes of key GOP holdouts.
The grueling speakership race in the 118th Congress is the longest-lasting House speaker election in over 150 years.
In October, Kevin McCarthy famously said that, if Republicans take back the chamber, America was “not going to write a blank check to Ukraine.”
However, Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell took a wildly different stance, saying, “Providing assistance for Ukrainians to defeat the Russians is the number one priority for the United States right now according to most Republicans,” ignoring top issues such as record inflation and rising crime.
So far, the United States Congress has passed legislation sending nearly $100 billion to Ukraine according to Breitbart, and if McConnell’s “top priority” is any indication, the taxpayer’s bill will only increase in the 118th Congress.
The Kentucky Senator even posed for a picture with Zelenskyy during a December visit, writing, “Continuing our support for Ukraine is morally right, but is not only that. It is also a direct investment in cold, hard, American interests.”
Continuing our support for Ukraine is morally right, but it is not only that. It is also a direct investment in cold, hard, American interests. pic.twitter.com/zlWoAVz3Kk
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) December 24, 2022
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) put the cost of Ukrainian aid in perspective, explaining on Twitter that the number represents over $200 million this year from each United States Congressional district:
“$100 billion to Ukraine. Let’s put that in perspective.
That’s more than $200 million this year from each Congressional district.
What could your congressman have done for your district with $200 million?
How long will the kids in your district be paying interest on this debt?”
$100 billion to Ukraine. Let’s put that in perspective.
That’s more than $200 million this year from each Congressional district.
What could your congressman have done for your district with $200 million?
How long will the kids in your district be paying interest on this debt?
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 21, 2022
