Republican 2024 Presidential Hopefuls Divided Over US Role in Ukraine in Wake of Biden Speech

President Joe Biden spoke in Poland on Tuesday, praising the democracies of the world for coming to Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s year-long invasion. The speech has sparked a divide among Republican 2024 presidential hopefuls over the US role in Ukraine.

Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are among the isolationists, who believe the Biden administration has done too much to help Ukraine. On the other side are those who believe the US has not done enough to support the country.

The divide over Ukraine is one of the first fault lines of the 2024 GOP race, and could become a heated topic when Republican primary debates begin in the coming months. Biden alluded to his potential re-election bid in his speech, saying, “The decisions we make over the next five years or so are going to determine and shape our lives for decades to come.”

The US has been providing military aid to Ukraine since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea. Biden has continued to support Ukraine, and recently approved a $735 million arms sale to the country. The US has also imposed sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion.

The debate over the US role in Ukraine is likely to continue as the 2024 presidential race heats up. It will be interesting to see how the candidates’ positions evolve as the election approaches.