Ukraine believes Republicans will sink the money if they win

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(Bloomberg) – Ukraine believes the United States will maintain financial support for its fight against Russia if Republicans take control of Congress after the midterm elections, the country’s economy minister said. despite threats from some leaders to take a closer look at spending.

« We really appreciate your bipartisan support, » Ukraine’s Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said in an interview with Bloomberg News on Tuesday. “We are not worried. Ukraine is fighting for very concrete rights and values. I think the United States will support until we get the win.

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Svyrydenko issued a new appeal to allied nations to send more weapons and funding, including air defense systems to target Iranian drones and Russian missiles. She spoke just hours before the release of the first election results that could upend the Biden administration’s foreign policy agenda.

The Republicans should take control of the House of Representatives and could easily take the Senate as well. Republican House Leader Kevin McCarthy, who is in a position to become House Speaker, warned last month that his party would not write a « blank check » for Ukraine if it won a majority in the Tuesday’s elections. President Joe Biden also said in October that he was « worried » that Republicans would cut aid to Ukraine if they won.

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Infrastructure support

Svyrydenko traveled to Washington to talk with the Biden administration about rebuilding after Russian strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure last month led to power outages across the country. This includes submitting a list of electrical equipment Ukraine needs, including generators, she said.

These airstrikes have destroyed 30% of Ukrainian energy capacity, and Kyiv wants to gain flexibility by buying electricity from Europe.

More broadly, Ukraine needs international partners, including the United States, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, to cover around 50% of its expenses, Svyrydenko said. “By the end of the year, we will have commitments on the European side, on the American side,” she said. She said her visit did not involve any discussions with the IMF.

difficult winter

Ukraine is bracing for a harsh winter and anticipating even more attacks on civilian buildings and energy infrastructure as part of a deliberate Russian strategy.

« When Russia falls on the military side, on the battlefield, it tries to attack our social infrastructure, » she said. « They tried to destroy the entire power grid of our country to freeze Ukraine. »

—With help from Rosalind Mathieson.