Senator Mitch McConnell put his standing on the line in aggressively pursuing military assistance for Ukraine over deep Republican resistance, and he achieved the outcome he wanted: a strong Senate vote to bolster embattled U.S. allies at a critical moment.
“History settles every account,” Mr. McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the minority leader, said in a statement issued early Tuesday, minutes after the Senate voted 70 to 29 for a $95 billion foreign aid package.
“And today, on the value of American leadership and strength, history will record that the Senate did not blink.”But his hard-fought legislative victory came at a cost.
The bitter Senate fight over the aid package — money that Mr. McConnell framed as essential to preserving Western power — exposed serious divisions among Senate Republicans not just over Ukraine and border security policy but over his leadership.
The fallout underscored Mr. McConnell’s waning influence over his party’s rank and file and raised new questions about his future.
Persons:
Mitch McConnell, ” Mr, McConnell
Organizations:
Republican, Senate, Republicans
Locations:
Ukraine, U.S, Kentucky