The U.S. Congress appears unlikely to approve a new financial aid package for Ukraine, even as it supports increased sanctions against Russia, according to Brian Mast, the Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in a recent interview with Radio Liberty.
Mast emphasized that European nations should take on greater responsibility for supporting Ukraine, given the proximity of the conflict to their borders. He stated, “I don’t believe you will see a new American security assistance package for Ukraine—whether it’s $6 billion, $60 billion, or any other amount.”
Despite this, Mast noted that Washington will continue to provide intelligence support and facilitate the sale and transfer of weapons, even if Congress does not approve a large-scale aid package. His remarks reflect a growing skepticism among Republicans, particularly those aligned with former President Donald Trump, regarding ongoing support for Ukraine, despite calls from some politicians across both parties for renewed assistance to Kyiv and tougher sanctions on Moscow.
Mast characterized the Trump administration’s approach to the Russian war against Ukraine as “measured.” He reiterated that the U.S. should continue sharing intelligence and facilitating arms transfers but should refrain from approving new large funding packages. “We are ready to be mediators for peace. Europe needs to defend its own backyard,” he asserted.
The congressman also criticized certain European governments for relying on U.S. security guarantees while remaining dependent on Russian energy supplies. He expressed support for additional sanctions against Russia but cautioned that these measures should not harm U.S. allies more than they do Russia. “Sanctions should inflict more damage on our enemies and benefit us and our allies,” he stated.
As of now, there has been no comment from the European Union regarding these statements.
Earlier reports indicated that the Trump administration did not include funding for military assistance to Ukraine under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) in the proposed defense budget for the fiscal year 2027. Jules Gerst, acting financial chief of the U.S. Department of Defense, confirmed this during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, stating, “Yes, that is correct. There is no USAI funding in this budget.” He was responding to a senator’s inquiry about the absence of funds for USAI in the budget request.
Despite this, the overall defense spending being discussed for 2027 is approximately $1.5 trillion, a record level that exceeds current spending by 50%, according to reports.
U.S. Congress is hesitant to approve new military aid for Ukraine, with calls for Europe to assume more responsibility. The Trump administration's budget proposal for 2027 does not include funding for Ukraine's military assistance, raising concerns about future support.