By most measures, Congress has responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in a bipartisan way. Every measure that’s come up has passed, with the support of Democratic and Republican leaders in both chambers. The parties may be further apart than at any point in modern American history, but not when it comes to this ongoing crisis.
To say there’s complete unanimity on supporting the United States’ allies in Ukraine, however, would be an overstatement.
As regular readers know, there’s a contingent within the House Republican conference that’s picked up some unflattering nicknames while balking at Ukrainian aid. Rep. Liz Cheney, for example, has labeled them the GOP’s “Putin wing.” The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee called them the “GOP’s pro-Putin faction.” A Washington Post report added that these Republicans have formed “what some Democrats (and even critics on the right) have labeled ‘Putin’s Caucus.’”
Even now, the bloc won’t budge. The Hill reported late yesterday:
The House passed four bills on Wednesday that seek to rebuke Russia and Belarus and support Ukraine as Moscow’s invasion draws close to the three-month mark. The passage of the quartet of bills came one day after the House approved a $39.8 billion aid package for Kyiv, including billions of dollars in security assistance and millions for refugee support services.
First up was the Russia and Belarus Financial Sanctions Act, which mandates that entities owned by U.S. financial institutions can’t circumvent the sanctions the U.S. has imposed on Russia and Belarus. It passed 418 to 2 — and both of its opponents were Republicans.
It was soon followed by the Ukraine Comprehensive Debt Payment Relief Act, which calls for the suspension of Ukrainian debt payments during the war. It passed 362 to 56 — and all of its opponents were Republicans.
Next up was the Isolate Russian Government Officials Act, which calls for excluding Russian officials from international gatherings such as G-20 summits. It passed 416 to 2 — and both of its opponents were Republicans.
Finally, there was the Russia and Belarus SDR Exchange Prohibition Act, which is intended to block Russia’s and Belarus’ access to International Monetary Fund tools. It passed 417 to 2 — and both of its opponents were Republicans.
The only two members to oppose each of the four measures were Kentucky’s Thomas Massie and Georgia’s Marjorie Taylor Greene. (The latter has been especially eager in recent months to echo Moscow’s rhetoric on the war.)
Yesterday’s votes came on the heels of the House approving a $40 billion Ukrainian aid package, which passed 368 to 57. If you’re assuming that all 57 opponents were Republicans, you’re correct.








