Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) said he is “embarrassed” and “ashamed” by his party withholding crucial aid to Ukraine as they defend themselves against an unprovoked Russian invasion.
Buck’s remarks come on the two-year anniversary of the war at a time when Ukrainians are running low on supplies and Republicans are increasingly against sending more aid.
Earlier this month, the Senate passed a $95 billion foreign aid package which includes assistance for Ukraine, but it is stalled in the House as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is refusing to bring it to the floor for a vote.
“As a Republican I’m embarrassed that my party is holding up funding that absolutely needs to be made to Ukraine to let them fight the Russian invasion. It is ironic to me that we’ve just been dealing with a memo issue that involves Russian disinformation in this country, we’re now also dealing with Russian disinformation about the war in Ukraine. There’s many parallels about how Russia is infecting and affecting the politics of the United States. We need to get past that,” Buck told CNN’s Michael Smerconish on Saturday.
“We need to understand the threat that Russia has and is to the European countries, our allies, our trading partners, those who share our values much more than other countries around the world,” Buck continued. “I am really ashamed that the Republican Party doesn’t step up, recognize this threat and support the people of Ukraine who are fighting, who are dying in this war.”
House Democrats are reportedly considering a discharge petition to force the foreign aid package to the House floor for a vote despite Johnson’s objections.
A Republican group has also announced a six-figure ad campaign targeting 10 House GOP lawmakers–including Buck– urging them to back a discharge petition to overcome Johnson’s blockade.
Buck suggested Saturday he might support the move, telling Smerconish there are “many procedural mechanisms” to pass the bill in the House.
“The bill has to move and we have to support the people of Ukraine with the weapons they need to fight their own war,” he added.
