Among Republicans, “internal elections” have begun for a rated candidate to represent the party in the national election.
The issue of the war in Ukraine has become an obstacle in the inter-party struggle between Republicans and Democrats and has divided the presidential candidates into the so-called “globalists” and “isolationists.” Some candidates advocate a sharp reduction in state budget expenditures and think about international aid, while the other part still understands the international position of the United States and its role in the world order. .
The British publication The Independent compiled a list of Republican presidential candidates based on their words on the issue of the war in Ukraine. Journalists note that for years, party leaders such as George W. Bush have sounded the alarm on Russia and supported Ukraine’s membership in NATO, but in recent years, especially under former President Donald Trump, modern conservatives have adopted an isolationist stance.
The publication recalled that while still president, Trump tried to stop military aid to Ukraine by pressuring President Vladimir Zelensky to force him to open an investigation against Joe Biden. The article also mentions how Trump sided with Putin when the issue of Russian interference in the 2016 elections was raised, as well as how he said that all aid to Ukraine should be stopped until evidence of so-called “corrupt business” was provided. practices”. operation” by Biden and his son Hunter. At a July rally in Pennsylvania, he basically said that Biden was dragging the United States into a war, and on Fox News he said that he could end the war in 24 time, without giving any details.
As for Ron Desantis, who represents an alternative to Trump, journalists recalled his statements about the “territorial conflict between Ukraine and Russia,” intervention in which US interests are not covered. After facing backlash for downplaying the war, he later clarified that he was referring to the conflict in Donbass and Crimea. Since then, however, Desantis has begun to avoid commenting too much on the war in Ukraine.
The most anti-Ukrainian rhetoric, as noted by the media, was expressed by Vivek Ramaswami, who suggested that Ukraine surrender the territory, and also spoke sarcastically about Vladimir Zelensky. He called Ukraine “anti-democratic”, and proposed a peace formula by transferring the eastern regions to Vladimir Putin and blocking Ukraine’s entry into NATO.
At the same time, former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Gailey and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie are actively supporting Kyiv, journalists added. In particular, Nikki Gailey said that Ukraine’s victory would be a signal warning China against attacking Taiwan, forcing Iran to abandon the creation of nuclear weapons, and North Korea to abandon ballistic missiles test. He has been a vocal critic of what he sees as Biden’s slow relief efforts.
And Chris Christie, who visited Ukraine earlier this year and, like Gailey, believes that supporting Ukraine is in the interests of the United States. He also compared Desantis to Chamberlain, and Trump to “Putin’s puppet,” and said he laid the groundwork for the invasion.
Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and former Vice President Mike Pence also spoke about support for Ukraine. However, they withdrew their nominations, and their votes increased Nikki Gailey’s rating.
The American newspaper The Hill paid attention to the statements of the presidential candidates regarding the war in Ukraine, which they made during the third debate between the candidates of the Republican Party. Thus, Nikki Gailey and Chris Christie have advocated support for Ukraine, arguing that our fight is essential to US national security. Gailey said during the debate that the United States must protect its allies, build relationships abroad and defeat the “unholy alliance” between Russia, Iran and China.
Christie compared the war in Ukraine to World War II because, in his opinion, the last time the United States backed away from a war in Europe, it only got them a few years.
Ramaswamy, contradicting Gailey, called Ukraine “corrupt, and the Russian-occupied regions speak Russian.” He also said that there will be no presidential elections in Ukraine in the spring, which means that Ukraine does not look like a model of democracy. DeSantis, for his part, derided Biden’s request for a large aid package to Ukraine and said the US should focus on the southern border and the Indo-Pacific region.
Journalists of the publication linked the rhetoric of the candidates in the last debate to the growing skepticism about the support for Ukraine among the US population. Against this background, the House of Representatives, controlled by Republicans, is slowing funding for Ukraine. Active debate also continues in the upper house – the Senate.
The American television company CNN published an article in which it discussed the growth in ratings of pro-Ukrainian presidential candidate Nikki Gailey. The material focuses on his positions in the first states where the primaries will be voted on, particularly New Hampshire. There, Gailey ended up in second place, which, although far behind former President Trump, was still ahead of the other candidates.
Reporters cited a CNN/University of New Hampshire poll showing that 20% of likely GOP primary voters would support Gailey, up from 12% in September, putting him in second place. Trump was supported by 42% of voters, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie – 14%, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis – 9%, and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy – 8%. The poll found that 52% of expected GOP primary voters in the state had made up their minds.
Gailey placed his experience as US ambassador to the UN at the center of his argument for his candidacy. His speeches are full of references to his work in China, Russia and Iran, as well as US allies like Israel and Ukraine. At one point, Gailey also criticized debates in Congress about border funding and aid to Ukraine and Israel, considering all three issues very important.
The Washington Post also presented a major analysis of the candidacy of Nikki Gailey, who journalists see as the main alternative to Trump. The publication believes that he has already surpassed Ron Desantis in a number of ways, finishing second in Iowa, and also finishing in New Hampshire and South Carolina. These states will give Gailey a base to fight, but Gailey’s race will still be complicated by the presence of Chris Christie.
Galey’s surge in early states has drawn the attention of many wealthy GOP donors who want to prevent Trump from winning the Republican nomination but are skeptical that any of his rivals can defeat him, the newspaper notes. . The most influential donors of the party, according to journalists, began to pay attention to Gailey, and if they have not yet decided on a candidate, they may do so as soon as possible in his favor. Many of them are drawn to his views on abortion and foreign policy.
So, Gailey, who has gotten his own strategy right, could fight Trump in the primaries and have a theoretical chance of winning. He’s already managed to show himself off and the ratings are up, so there may be more to come. His victory will be one of the best options for Ukraine and renew the Republican Party from within – not immediately, but over time, the newspaper summarizes.
Olesya Krasnolutskaya and Victor Kovalchuk, expert on international issues in Sotsiopolis
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.