Kevin McCarthy backs US weapons, aid to Ukraine

During a Monday press conference,  House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told a Russian reporter that he has voted for aid to Ukraine, and that the reporter’s comments that the lead House Republican doesn’t support "unlimited and uncontrolled" aid to Ukraine was false.

"We know that you don't support the unlimited and uncontrolled supplies of weaponry and aid to Ukraine. "So, can you comment: Is it possible in the near future the US policy regarding sending weaponry to Ukraine will change?" said a reporter from Russian state-sponsored outlet RIA Novosti.

"Yeah, I’m not sure, the sound here isn’t that good, did he say I don’t support aid to Ukraine?" McCarthy began. "No. I vote for aid to Ukraine, I support aid to Ukraine. I do not support what your country has done to Ukraine. I do not support your killing of the children, either.

"And I think for one standpoint you should pull out, and I don't think it's right. And we will continue to support because the rest of the world sees it just as it is," he added.

McCarthy has previously voiced concerns that Ukraine should not be given a "blank check."

In March McCarthy was invited to visit Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky in Ukraine, but the House leader turned down the request, saying "Let’s be very clear about what I said: no blank checks, OK? So, from that perspective, I don’t have to go to Ukraine to understand whether there’s a blank check or not, I will continue to get my briefings and others, but I don’t have to go to Ukraine or Kyiv to see it. And my point has always been, I won’t provide a blank check for anything."