British Defense Minister Grant Shapps expressed confidence that the United States and Poland would maintain their unwavering support for Ukraine, despite domestic pressures stemming from their upcoming elections.
He affirmed that Britain’s commitment to backing Kyiv remained steadfast, as it had since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year.
Regarding recent developments, the weekend’s US budget deal, aimed at averting a government shutdown, notably did not include provisions for aid to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Poland, which is poised to elect a new parliament on October 15, announced its intention to halt new arms deliveries to Kyiv in favor of replenishing its own stockpiles.
Shapps expressed optimism, stating, “I very much hope and believe that when the elections happen there and things are more settled, a sensible, common-sense approach will be taken.” These sentiments echoed those of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who, last week, expressed confidence in Poland’s ongoing support for Ukraine, despite recent sharp rhetoric.
Concerns also linger about US support for Ukraine, given ongoing budget negotiations and a presidential election scheduled for November next year. President Joe Biden has urged Republican lawmakers to endorse a bill aimed at providing Ukraine with more assistance.
Shapps emphasized, “I think we’re a long way from the US withdrawing its support,” citing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s expectation that US support would persist, irrespective of the presidential election’s outcome.
Furthermore, Shapps cautioned against reading too much into the intricacies of the US budget process, noting that assumptions of a “worst-case scenario” from the election might not materialize.
