‘Congresswoman Spartz will not support the bill providing assistance to Ukraine’, – WSJ

Ukrainian-born congresswoman Victoria Spartz will not vote for the proposed $60 billion aid package to Kyiv and wants President Biden to have a clearer strategy regarding U.S. involvement in the war.

The Wall Street Journal reported this.

According to the publication, the Republican from Indiana, who is one of the most prominent figures in the House of Representatives, stated that she does not support the recently passed Senate package, which includes $60 billion in aid to Ukraine, as well as funds for Israel and Taiwan. Additional funds for Ukraine in some form are expected to be voted on in the House of Representatives this spring.

Spartz’s opposition to the bipartisan bill is a vivid example of disagreements among Republicans in Congress regarding further assistance to Kyiv amidst opposition from many Republican party voters. In several interviews, Spartz stated that she wants President Biden to have a clearer strategy regarding U.S. involvement in the war and more rigorous oversight over how aid is spent. She also wants any assistance directed to Ukraine to be offered as a loan and for the administration to pay more attention to domestic issues.

“I understand the importance of this battle and the consequences if Russia wins, but I am also not too naive. Without proper oversight, we will not achieve our goals,” she said.

According to her, voters in the Indianapolis suburbs, where Spartz resides, oppose aid to Ukraine for the same reasons as on a national scale, reflecting pressure on incumbent Republicans.

Spartz was one of the first to actively advocate for Ukraine. However, today, Spartz says she has largely shifted her focus away from Ukraine.

Speaking against the current proposal, Spartz said she could support a package that includes funding for armament, additional oversight, and stricter border security rules in the United States.

White House officials have briefed Spartz several times, including in December, where she and her Republican colleagues had the opportunity to ask senior administration officials about their concerns. They stated that Biden’s support for aid to Ukraine has bipartisan approval and that American officials continue to monitor oversight of aid provision.

Democrats had initially hoped that Spartz could play a more active role in efforts to strengthen Republican support for aid to Ukraine.

Hawks view this money as a well-spent investment compared to the money and response that would be required from the U.S. in the event of an escalation of the conflict.

“There was a feeling that she would be one of the Republicans who would really go all out to help Ukraine. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen her use her personal knowledge of the country and its politics to effectively unite Republicans,” said Sarah Jacobs, a member of the U.S. Congress from California, who visited Ukraine with Spartz a few weeks before Russia’s invasion.

Spartz’s influence is also limited by the lack of close allies in Congress and her unpredictable behavior. One Republican colleague said her arguments during Republican party conferences are often so difficult to understand that people often leave when she starts speaking.

In February 2023, Spartz announced her plans to leave Congress, stating that she wants to spend more time with her two daughters. But a year later, she reversed her decision, partly because she believes that none of the Republican candidates vying for her seat will be up to the task.