A REPUBLICAN opponent of new United States funding for Ukraine called today for a “negotiated peace” with Russia during a speech at an international security conference.
This comes days before the second anniversary on February 22 of the Russian invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US vice-president Kamala Harris and others have advocated passage of the $60 billion (£48bn) in aid at the Munich Security Conference, which coincided with Ukraine withdrawing troops from the eastern city of Avdiivka after months of intense combat.
But Senator JD Vance, an Ohio Republican and ally of Donald Trump, said: “The problem in Ukraine is that there’s no clear end point” and that the US does not make enough weapons to support wars in eastern Europe, the Middle East and “potentially a contingency in east Asia.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson insists that he won’t be “rushed” into approving the $95.3 billion (£84 billion) foreign aid package from the Senate that includes the help for Ukraine, despite overwhelming support from most Democrats and almost half the Republicans.
Admitting the limitations on US manufacturing capacity Senator Vance said that even if the package goes through it was not “going to fundamentally change the reality on the battlefield."
He said: “No matter how many checks the US Congress writes, we are limited.
“I think what’s reasonable to accomplish is some negotiated peace.”
This followed Russia announcing that its forces had taken complete control on Saturday of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine that was the focus of intense combat for months.
The Russian Defence Ministry’s announcement came the same day Ukraine’s military chief said he was withdrawing his outnumbered and outgunned troops from Avdiivka after a four-month battle.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told the Kremlin that Russian forces were working to clear final pockets of resistance at the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant, officials said in a statement.
Videos on social media on Saturday appeared to show soldiers raising the Russian flag over one of the plant’s buildings.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described Avdiivka’s capture as an “important victory.”
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Mr Zelensky warned his country’s allies that an “artificial deficit” of arms for Ukraine risked giving Russia breathing space.
He said: “Our actions are limited only by our strength.”
US President Joe Biden said that he told Mr Zelensky in a phone call on Saturday that he remains confident Congress will ultimately approve additional funding for Ukraine.
