Ending U.S. aid to Ukraine would be “devastating” to Ukraine's war of survival against Russia, the nominee for what's widely considered the third-most powerful position in the Pentagon warned Thursday.
“It'd be devastating, first and foremost, to Ukraine, which is putting good use to the assistance we are providing them, but also to this very, very impressive alliance that has been formed over the last 20 months,” Derek Chollet told the Senate Armed Services Committee at his confirmation hearing to be under secretary of defense for policy.
Chollet's testimony on Capitol Hill comes as there appears to be no clear path in Congress to approving more aid for Ukraine. While a majority of lawmakers in both parties continue to support the funding, a growing number of Republicans are turning against the aid.
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In what could be the most consequential shift, GOP House leadership is bowing to far-right pressure to pump the brakes on the security assistance.
Chollet told the Senate committee that more than 50 countries, including donors outside of Europe, are contributing in some way to the effort in Ukraine.
“These are countries all around the world that are providing some form of military assistance,” said Chollet, who currently serves as counselor at the State Department. “We are leading by example. We are doing the most…
