Republicans have won a “mono-majority” in the US Congress: how this will affect the war in Ukraine
14 November 2024 16:19
ANALYSIS FROM 
In the US elections, the Republican Party won 218 seats in the House of Representatives, securing a majority, the Associated Press reports. This allows Republicans to control both houses of Congress, increasing their influence on the country’s legislative processes. What does this mean for Ukraine and what expectations will no longer be met?
According to the latest estimates, the Democrats have 208 seats in the House of Representatives, but voting is still ongoing. In the Senate, according to The Hill, the Republicans also gained an advantage, securing 53 seats against 47 for the Democrats. Thus, the Democrats are losing their majority in Congress, which could significantly affect the government’s agenda.
Republican congressmen have already nominated the current Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, for this position in the new lower house.
Have there been similar precedents in history?
Yes, the control of one party over both houses of the US Congress has happened many times. For example, in 1994, the Republicans gained a majority in Congress for the first time in 40 years, which significantly changed the political landscape of the United States. Also, during the presidencies of George W. Bush (2003-2007) and Donald Trump (2017-2019), Republicans controlled both houses, which allowed them to promote key legislative initiatives for the party.
This is not a defeat for Ukraine, but aid may change
Military expert Ivan Stupak in an exclusive commentary for
“Although these political appointments are not yet final, the probability of their approval is quite high. At the same time, even under the new circumstances, the Republicans are taking a more realistic approach to helping Ukraine. However, we should not expect the continuous funding we would like. This is the money of American taxpayers, and the United States has its own urgent problems, such as illegal migration,” Ivan Stupak said.
Regarding territorial issues, the expert admitted that support for the return of Crimea is gradually weakening.
“No one will return Crimea to Ukraine. European politicians also understand this. Yes, everyone knows that we need to stop this war, because no one will keep throwing money at us endlessly. This, of course, sounds unpleasant,” Ivan Stupak
At the same time, Stupak points out that the new US officials are likely to maintain an anti-Russian stance – many of them have already supported tough sanctions against Russia, including the proposal to cut off the SWIFT system.
As for further military support for Ukraine, the expert expects that the United States may continue to support the modernization of the Ukrainian army, but on new, market conditions – in the format of loans, not free aid.
“This is a normal practice, and it stimulates long-term cooperation, because investments are returned with interest, which is beneficial to both parties,” explains Stupak.
To ensure long-term security, Ukraine should develop its own military-industrial complex, following the example of South Korea, which independently provides for its defense and maintains security from aggressive neighbors.
“We must rely on our own strengths and capabilities, as South Korea has been doing for more than 70 years,” summarizes Ivan Stupak
Ukraine should establish relations with Trump’s team and resolve the issue of the ambassador to the United States
American political strategist Jason J. Smart in an exclusive commentary for
“It would be important for Ukrainian representatives to have the opportunity to be there when the future of Ukraine is being discussed,” said Jason J. Smart.
In addition, Smart drew attention to the issue of Ukraine’s representation in the United States and emphasized the need to appoint a new ambassador.
“Several months ago, the Speaker of the House of Representatives publicly called on Ukraine to replace Oksana Markarova in this position. Keeping a representative in Washington who does not have the support of the US government may negatively affect the decision on further assistance to Ukraine,” Smart said.
The political strategist believes that timely steps to update diplomatic contacts and expand the presence of Ukrainian representatives among Republican leaders can help Ukraine secure support from the United States.
Author – Anastasia Fedor
